Programs to improve the welfare of Media professionals

November 16, 2024

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Programs to improve the welfare of Media professionals ^Featured

December 12, 2015

The Deputy Minister of Parliament and Mass Media Karunarathne Paranawithana speaking in Parliament today (12) said that number of programs would be implemented fto upgrade the welfare of the Media personnel.

The Deputy Minister made these observations joining the Committee Stage debate on Budget 2016, under financial head of the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media.

The Deputy Minister said e passed an era where there were cases of direct and indirect political pressures on the media, including threatening journalists, political pressure, corruption in state media and even the private media came under dictatorship. Journalists were killed. Lasantha Wickrematunga was killed in the high security zone. Pradeep Ekneligoda went missing, Poddala Jayantha was brutally attacked iwhhle some journalists were forced to flee their home country.

He further said, the Digitization of the film industry will be started next year and it is expect to be completed by 2017. A number of programs would be implemented for the welfare of the Media professionals. It would be implemented by the Ministry of the Mass Media together with the Department of Government Information, he said.

Deputy minister speaking about the Right to Information bill said,it will be presented before the Parliament in January 2016. the bill will grant every citizen the right of access to official information which is in the possession, custody or control of a public authority thus help in good governance.