The official franchise for telecasting the Cricket World Cup 2015 in Sri Lanka will be brought back to state run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation today, Asian Mirror reliably learns.  

When contacted by Asian Mirror, Acting Director (Sports) of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Palitha Senarath Yapa said the final decision was likely to be announced this evening. The franchise was previously owned by CSN sports channels, owned by the sons of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“The decision was taken to terminate the Cricket World Cup 2015 franchise from the Carlton Sports Network (CSN) on February 3, since then discussions were  going on with international channels who hold the universal franchise for the 2015 World Cup” Yapa said.

According to SLRC sources, Channel Eye will become the official telecaster of the 2015 Cricket World Cup which will be played in New Zealand and Australia.

However, Yapa refused to comment regarding any ‘bidding’process which has to be conducted in order to acquire the franchise. However he added that the normal procedure to obtain this sort of franchise is through a competitive bid.

Meanwhile, speaking on the practicality of telecasting the World Cup through the national television grid, Yapa said that the Rupavahini Corporation is able to reach out to 95% of Sri Lankan television viewers as opposed to CSN.

(Hasitha Ayeshmantha)