Court orders injunction in Sri Lankan Olympics row

The Colombo Commercial High Court has issued an injunction to halt Maharaja Television Network (MTV)'s plans to air the London Olympics in Sri Lanka, following a petition from state broadcaster Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC). The injunction, issued by Judge Gamini Amarasekara on 17 May, is effective until 31 May 2012, according to the Sri Lanka Mirror. The respondents cited in the SLRC petition are reportedly Javad Mottaghi and APBU Sports Director John Barton, respectively secretary general and sports director of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Controversy erupted in Sri Lanka when both SLRC and MTV each claims to have been granted the rights by ABU to air live action from the London 2012 Olympic Games, which begin on 27 July. Traditionally, the SLRC has been the sole Olympic broadcaster in Sri Lanka, and the court heard how it was given exclusive TV rights again for London 2012 Olympics on 6 December 2011. MTV, along with the radio rights winner Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), however publically announced it had also been awarded the rights to the Games earlier in May. SLRC contends this is unlawful.