Ceylon Today Editorial

WHO IS JACKSON ANTHONY to teach media barons? 

Thursday 29th October 2015

 
The media this week carried a news item that tele-drama/film personality Jackson Anthony is to be summoned before the PRECIFAC probing alleged financial irregularities during the previous Rajapaksa regime, regarding the costs of performances at the opening ceremony of the Hambantota Port where huge sums had been paid to Artistes.

The Contractor of that assignment had charged Rs 1.5 billion for the extravaganza which had choreography spearheaded by the popular Channa and Upuli Wijewardene dance troupe. Last week Channa and Upuli who were alleged to have been paid Rs 15 million testified before PRECIFAC. The duo later issued a media statement which claimed that the actual amount paid to them was
Rs 6.8 million and gave full details as to why such a quantum was charged. The entire dance troupe had taken residence in the South for two months to prepare for the event and Channa with Upuli caused that as a reason to levy Rs 6.8 million. Certainly, Channa as the leading dancer in this country has the right to determine his price. He cannot be faulted for accepting his price of Rs 6.8 million.

Everyone knows who the contractor was for this event and the colossal sum charged by him. Jackson Anthony had made a comment to an English daily yesterday, that media barons sell their newspapers carrying whatever news they could lay their hands on, adding he was not prepared to disclose the amount he charged for that contract on the Hambantota Port event. In the annals of the Sri Lankan medium of Art, no film personality has done business with successive Governments, from the days of Eddie and B.A.W. Jayammane to Dr. Lester James Peries, Laddie Ranasinghe, Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickreme, Vijaya Kumaratunga,Tony Ranasinghe and Malini Fonseka.

The Film Artistes Guild was politicized after the legends moved out. Some popular film stars and self-proclaimed tele-drama actors became henchmen of political leaders. They started to sing hosannas for the political leaders who blessed them with contracts out of State coffers. One would remember how Jackson Anthony disclosed that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was a direct descendant of Gauthama Buddha. When Jackson made that claim many in the audience could not stop laughing in silence and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa sported a mischievous smile. Gotabhaya knew that ignorance cannot outsmart intelligence when his clan was linked to Buddha by Jackson Anthony.

People like Jackson Anthony, whom we believe is popular amongst a certain class of people in this country is free to praise politicians who reward them with well paid contracts. He has no right to accuse or slander newspaper barons in this country. Newspaper barons do not care for self-proclaimed Podian type 'actors'. And, Jackson Anthony is not news. If not for the media; people would not have known this man called Jackson Anthony, who is not in the class of supra grade film actors like Gamini Fonseka, Joe Abeywickreme, Vijaya Kumaratunga and Tony Ranasinghe or comedian Freddie Silva for that matter. But, if he is summoned by the Police or PRECIFAC for alleged financial misdeeds it certainly is news to publish as the public wait to see as to what, people like him who made merry during the previous regime had done.

The dignity of the film industry declined to rubble because actors became Event and Public Relations contractors of governments. The tragedy committed by those 'Actor Contractors' is very damaging to reputed artistes in the Medium of Art. These contractors grab huge sums from governments to determine rates and pay others who perform. There are reputed Public Relations Companies in the country if a government wants to organize such events. Such things must be organized through the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and not handed over to individuals in any segment of the Medium of Art. The Media and Information Ministry should be directed to liaise with the Cultural Affairs Ministry with regard to cultural displays at State events. Learning lessons from the past, the incumbent government should halt these corrupt practices to prevent plunder of public money.

For the education of Jackson Anthony, he must be told that media barons in this country know which content does sell their newspapers. When self-proclaimed 'Heroes', be it actors or politicians, run corrupt or hysteric, it is news for the people to enjoy or laugh in the absence of top comedians in the bygone era. Such are categories that sell their own noble industry to Governments through 'contracts' to become millionaires overnight. Jackson Anthony is not a media wizard or a pundit in the Medium of Art to advise media barons how to sell their products. Media barons have started their media business being millionaires unlike the 'Jackals' and 'Anthonys' of today.