Daily NEWS Srilanka

The media reported that a sum of Rs. 276 lakhs has been paid to Bathiya --Santhush and Company for singing, costing over 2 lakhs per minute on behalf of the Opening
Ceremony of the Bellanwila Walking Track and affiliated food arena which was launched under the guidance of the former secretary of the Ministry of State Security and Urban Development and activated by the Sri Lanka Reclamation and Development Corporation.

Popular singer Bathiya Jayakody has given his response in this connection. What he says is the news that this payment was charged only for singing the songs is false. He explains that this total amount was charged for organising the event. Bathiya states here that the organising activities of this ceremony was conducted by the Company Show Time Entertainment which organises ceremonies and concerts of an international level and that he is sorry for spreading incorrect information without even knowing proper information and the name of the institution. Whatever it is, the following is what he presents as the reasons for charging the sum of 276 lakhs:

   Attractive lighting systems across a landspace extending upto 3 kilometres

   Using loudspeakers

   Allotting seats for special guests as protection from rain

   Allotting seats for the enormous crowd who had come

   Exhibition of LED boards on either side of the road all over the said land

   Erection of an alluring floating stage above water

   Using 12 electric generators

He points out that the services of dancing troupes, music bands, male - female singers upto that of technicians, services of a large number of people inclusive of services rendered by other Companies all of which expenditure has been forwarded in a transparent manner and further says that on a background where he has not received summons by anybody or faced any enquiry, 'mud-publicity' is being aimed towards them and therefore not to be duped by such tactics.