The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) which comes directly under President Maithripala Sirisena has moved to seal transmission towers operated by TNL, the electronic media outfit owned by Shan Wickremesinghe, brother of PM Ranil Wickremasinghe.

The TRC’s sudden decision follows a programme on comments made by the President at a ceremony commemorating the late Ven Madoluwawe Sobitha Thero  referring to contradictions in various statements made by Sirisena with regard to the 100-days programme and also implied that he had a hand in the controversial deal to purchase a Russian ship which, TNL suggests was the reason for the Navy Commander’s tenure not being extended as well as the resignation of the then Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Karunasena Hettiarachchi.

A repeater transmission center belonging to the TNL media network in Polgahawela has reportedly been shut down and the broadcast equipment taken into police custody based on a court order.

This has disrupted the channel’s broadcasting services in Sabaragamuwa, North Western and Western provinces, according to TNL.

When inquired by Ada Derana regarding this, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) had registered a complaint yesterday for allegedly maintaining an unauthorized transmission tower.

Based on that complaint, police presented the relevant information to the Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court today (5).

The court ordered the police to carry out investigations and also instructed to take the broadcast equipment at the center into police custody.

He further said that currently Polgahawela Police is conducting further investigations with the assistance of the TRC.