Anusha Pelpita, who recently stepped down as the Chairman of Lake House, a government-owned newspaper company, took to Facebook to express his thoughts on his resignation. Pelpita's Facebook post has stirred controversy as he alludes to a conspiracy behind his departure.
In his post, Pelpita highlighted the achievements during his 13-month tenure, mentioning that he turned Lake House into a profitable company before resigning from his chairmanship. He expressed gratitude towards the board of directors, senior officers, and all other officials who supported him during challenging times.
Pelpita emphasized the closure of loss-making newspapers, the increase in newspaper sales, and the success of the Daily News and Sunday Observer newspapers. He thanked the editors and editorial board members, especially Mr. Sisira Parana Tantri, for their hard work in achieving these milestones.
Furthermore, Pelpita praised the implementation of a performance appraisal system based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and reducing the contract period for employees. He thanked the Human Resources Department officers, including Mr. Janaka Ranatunga, for their efforts in this regard.
The former chairman mentioned the digital transformation initiatives undertaken, including the creation of Facebook accounts and YouTube channels for all Lake House newspapers. He expressed gratitude to the dedicated officers involved in strengthening the existing websites and turning them into a source of monthly income.
Pelpita highlighted the introduction of a charging system for e-newspapers, the preparation of procedures manuals for various departments, and the conduct of regular board and senior officers' meetings to ensure organizational progress. He also mentioned the relaunch of the previously inactive website, www.adz.lk, to regain advertising revenue lost by Lake House.
Additionally, Pelpita acknowledged efforts to control unnecessary expenses and address challenges faced by the newspaper industry, such as the rising cost of papers.
In a somewhat controversial statement, Pelpita revealed that the matter of him simultaneously acting as the Secretary and Chairman of the Ministry of Mass Media was not discussed in a recent COPE committee meeting. He mentioned concerns expressed by his minister regarding this dual role, which ultimately influenced his decision to leave Lake House.
