Moves to digitize TV transmission under heavy criticism

COLOMBO (News1st): Opposition lawmakers have criticized the government over its moves to digitize television transmission after cabinet approval was received for the project recently. "The government was elected not for a system change in the television industry but in the country," Thushara Indunil, a Samagi Jana Balawegaya parliamentarian said. He questioned whether digitizing television transmission was the need of the hour as people are grappling with several problems in the country. "This is similar to Niro fiddling while Rome burned," Indunil noted. Kumara Welgama, another opposition parliamentarian, also criticized the government for engaging in such projects. "We can continue to run operations under the existing system. Are we a developed nation to introduce new systems? Are we a wealthy nation?" he queried.