‘There is no repression of media in Sri Lanka’

COLOMBO: Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says the Press Council Act should be updated to protect the rights of journalists as well as all citizens, Daily News reported.

According to Daily News, he said there was no repression of the media and that he had no intention of becoming a minister with such a history.

He was speaking at a discussion with the Executive Committee Officers of the Ministerial Media Secretaries’ Forum held at the Ministry of Mass Media.

The minister also stated that the Press Council Act, which was established many years ago should be updated to suit the present times and that many sectors including the new media have now joined the media sector.

He also noted that there should be a system that protects the rights of the journalist as well as the citizen, otherwise there will be injustice to the citizen.

The minister pointed out that this could not be done unilaterally and that a suitable mechanism was needed for this.

A number of issues were discussed including the training of journalists as well as media secretaries at local and abroad level, conducting work workshops, imparting an understanding of the law and providing legal studies for journalists.