The Sri Lankan Supreme Court on Monday directed ABC Broadcasting (Pvt) Ltd. to provide details of the original shareholders of the company at the time the broadcasting licence was given. The bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Shirani Tilakawardena and Andrew Somawansa made this order when the matter relating to cancellation of licence of the five radio stations run by ABC Radio was taken up before court.

Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena appearing for the company informed the court that at the time the licence was issued, the present Managing Director Samantha Reynor Silva was not in the company. He said that Reynor Silva had joined ABC Radio in 1998 while it began its operation in 1995 by two shareholder companies--Sunrise Radio Pvt Limited which was incorporated in England and Blue Class, a company which was incorporated in Virgins Island.

Among the directors in the company, Blue Class, were businessman Ronnie Peiries, the counsel informed court.

Meanwhile, filing an affidavit Managing Director of the Company Reynor Silva who was charged with contempt of court for misleading court by omitting vital aspects of the controversial story broadcast in connection with Ranminitenna, Tissamaharama on October 24, pleaded innocence.

He claimed that he was unaware of the broadcast and at the time the alleged news item was released he was away from Colombo.

Sanjeewa Jayawardena with Rajiv Amarasuriya instructed by Sudath Perera Associates appeared for Reynor Silva while Nihal Jayamanne PC appeared for the Minister and Palitha Kumarasinghe PC appeared for the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. Deputy Solicitor General Shavindra Fernando with Senior State Counsel Nerin Pulle appeared for Media Ministry Secretary and the Attorney General.

The court put off the case for December 10.

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