MP Selvarajah Kajendran: Journalists facing threats in North and East
COLOMBO: MP Selvarajah Kajendran, highlighting threats faced by journalists in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, has requested authorities to intervene in controlling such situations.
He made these remarks while attending the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media.
Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella directed to have the Ministry and the IGP informed during such situations with immediate effect.
Rambukwella, attending the consultative committee, stated that a proper mechanism for the regulation of websites is needed and will be implemented within the next two weeks.
MP Suren Raghavan commenting on the matter stated that attempts to incite racism through social media should be curbed.
Adding to his remark, Education Minister Prof. G.L Peiris said that a new law has been passed in Singapore to control such matters and having studied such, the formulation of a new mechanism should be made.
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stressed that the Press Council Act should be amended in a way that it would protect the dignity of the citizens.
He also said that the rights of all citizens should be protected by the media.
The Minister also pointed out that defamation which is unjust should have control and that media regulation is required.
Speaking at the event, MP Prof. Charitha Herath, said that having discussed the amendments to the Press Council Act at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass
Media would make its progress more convenient.
He also said that a proper mechanism should be formulated to regulate television and radio broadcasts as well.
Education Minister Prof. G.L Peiris stated that it is convenient to refer the relevant amendments to the legal Drafting Committee after having it referred by the Ministerial Consultative Committee. The Professor highlighted the importance of referring a Bill to a technical committee.
MP Manusha Nanayakkara emphasized the need to reactivate the self-regulatory system for media institutions, which was discussed in 2015.
He emphasized that the damage done to civilians by the media was immense.
Discussions were also held regarding resuming the telecast of Parliamentary sessions through Channel eye of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.
The committee also focused on the recognition of media persons as professionals, the establishment of a minimum wage scheme for journalists, allocation of graduates in mass communication to related vacancies, and regarding the appointment of teachers to schools for the purpose of teaching mass media as a subject.
MP Shantha Bandara, drew the attention of the committee towards the standardization of state channels. \
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella pointed out that 06 chairmen’s have been appointed to the Independent Television Network (ITN) during the last four years and by 2014 the channel was number one according to survey reports.
In addition, the minister stated that state media institutions were running at a loss during the previous regime and that it will be restored to a profitable status within two years.
The minister said that providing educational scholarships to journalists, providing media equipment’s at a concessionary rate along with multiple welfare activities will be
implemented for journalists.
He said that the committee will not facilitate taking political decisions and will be take common decisions having consulted all parties.
MP Uddika Premarathna said that the standards of the language used for news should be looked into whilst pointing out that a mechanism should be implemented on that regard.
Jagath P. Wijeweera, secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media, informed the committee that an insurance scheme for journalists is scheduled to be introduced along with the
establishment of a journalism college in the coming year paving way for the education in ethical journalism.
The committee also focused on the vacancies in the Postal Department and having the distribution areas redefined.
Postmaster General Mr. Ranjith Ariyaratne said that a program to renovate sub post offices is scheduled to be launched next year.
Making the substitutes permanent will be taken into consideration in the future, he added. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, MPs Isuru Dodangoda, Goonetilleke Rajapaksa, Sagara Kariyawasam, Jayantha Weerasinghe and several Parliamentarians and government officials were present at the meeting.