Saman Athaudahetti assumed duties as Acting Chairman of the Independent Television Network last Thursday. He assumed duties at the ITN Head Office at Wickremasinghepura.

Saman Athaudahetti has been appointed as the Acting Chairman to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Hemasiri Fernando. Saman Athaudahetti who is serving as an Additional Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office is a veteran journalist, a lyricist, an author as well as a Programme Director. Heads of all State Media Establishments also joined in the ceremony organized to mark the assumption of duties of Saman Athaudahetti as Acting Chairman of the Independent Television Network.
Noteworthy was the presence for the first time of Chairmen and Directors General of other electronic and print state media institutions at the assumption of duties of a Chairman of the Independent Television Network. All of them joined in this occasion to expresses their support to ITN
Expressing his views on the occasion Presidential Media Director General Dharma Sri Bandara Ekanayake said that Saman Athaudahetti is a veteran in this field and is a founding member of ITN. He will do his utmost for the improvement of the institution.
After assuming office in the new Post at ITN, Saman Athaudahetti made a fervent appeal to all staff members to join hands in speeding up the journey to take the establishment to an advanced position.
He said that it was last Monday that the Prime Minister told him to take over the Network for this short period and carry out a radical restructure. On one hand he has come to run the 100 metre race. He said that serious changes would have to be effected within the next few weeks for the improvement of the institution. He invited the staff members to run the race at a speed with him.
Former Chairman Hemasiri Fernando, members of the ITN Board of Directors and the Senior Management as well as staff members were present on the occasion.