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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 11, 2019

TV Narrations of Ratupasvala: A Case Study

Amarasinghe, J ., Amarasinghe, SW ., Palliyaguru, C ., and Kariyakarawana,
1*
3
2
SM 4
1 Professor of Sinhala, Department of Sinhala, Faculty of Humanities and Social

Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Matara.

2 Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social

Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Matara.

3 Professor Emeritus, Department Sinhala, Faculty of Humanities, University of

Kelaniya, Kelaniya

4 Researcher

*Email: jayantharuh@gmail.com

Abstract

Multiplication of media establishments in a country does not necessarily make that country
more democratic and its content of the media pluralistic. Television is the most popular one
among the electronic media in Sri Lanka. It can be observed that as a result of deregulation

of the media since 1992, some 72 radio channels and about 21 television channels have been
thrived. The objective of the present study is to examine through the content of news

whether the abundance of broadcasts has had an influence on their content so as to make it
pluralistic. This research can be called as an analysis of the media content in particular, the
content of news telecast by six Sinhala medium television channels during a period of 10

days relating to a public conflict occurred in Gampaha District. The clash which affected 22
Grama Niladhāri Divisions namely Ratupaswala, Nadungamuwa, Imbulgoda, Walivēriya,
Ambaraluwa and Galoluwa in Gampaha and Mahara Divisional Secretariats over an issue

of pollution of water went on from 12.07.2013 to 01.08.2013. The main cause of the above
crisis was the complaint of the residents of the above-mentioned area against the
discharging of polluted water by the factory, Dipped Product Plc. established in this locality

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