News
Govt. to introduce mechanism to regulate social media
Dissemination of false information and promotion of racism
Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella told the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media on Saturday that a proper mechanism to regulate websites would be introduced within the next two weeks.
A member of the Committee MP Suren Raghavan said the promotion of racism and dissemination of false information through social media should be curbed. Minister of Education Prof. G. L Peiris said that a new law had been passed in Singapore to control such matters and that such legislation should be studied prior to formulation of a new mechanism here.
Rambukwella said that the Press Council Act should be amended to help protect the dignity of the citizens and that the rights of all citizens should be protected by the media.
MP Prof. Charitha Herath said that the amendments to the Press Council Act had been discussed at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media. He also said that a proper mechanism should be formulated to regulate television and radio as well.
SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara said that there was a need to reactivate the self-regulatory system for media institutions, which was discussed in 2015.
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 importance of recognising journalists as professionals, the establishment of a minimum wage scheme for journalists, deploying graduates in Mass Communication to related vacancies, and the appointment of teachers to teach Mass Media as a subject.
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella pointed out that six chairmen had been appointed to the Independent Television Network (ITN) during the last four years. By 2014 ITN was the number one channel according to surveys but the state media institutions were running at a loss during the previous regime. It would take two years to make them profit-making ventures, he said.
The Minister said that providing educational scholarships to journalists and media equipment at concessionary rates along with multiple welfare activities would be implemented.
Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media Jagath P. Wijeweera informed the committee that an insurance scheme for journalists would be introduced along with the establishment of a journalism college in the coming year.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Matale Dirstrict SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna yesterday tabled a list in Parliament naming 1,300 members, leaders, trade unionists, and activists of the UNP, who were allegedly assassinated by the JVP. The list was submitted during a parliamentary session as part of the government’s ongoing effort to document victims of political violence.
Along with the names of the victims, MP Wijerathna also introduced over 900 family members of the alleged victims, providing further context to the extent of the violence.
Speaking during the session, MP Wijerathna stated, “Child soldiers were recruited by the JVP even before the LTTE. ‘Kantale Bonikki,’ a 13-year-old child was used to murder a 70-year-old female UNP supporter.” She accused the JVP of using children to kill numerous UNP members during the JVP’s second insurgency.
The MP said that names not included in the current list would be submitted during the upcoming “Batalanda Debate” in April.
MP Wijerathna invited the public, via her Facebook page to submit further details on family members affected by political violence to ensure their inclusion in the extended record.
Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe yesterday informed Parliament that a CID probe had been called into land deals involving former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in Gampaha.
Jayasinghe said a request has been made by the Acting IGP in that regard.
The Deputy Minister said the lands in the Imbulgoda and Makola had been purchased in 2012 and sold in 2023.
He told Parliament that a plot of land purchased in Ihala Imbulgoda in 2012 under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Spiritual Foundation for Rs. 500,000 has been sold for Rs. 10 million, adding that the owner of the land is one Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa of Carlton House, Tangalle.
Jayasinghe said that another plot of land in Makola that was purchased for Rs. 01 million has been sold for Rs. 12 million, of which the owner was Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa of Carlton House, Tangalle. Inquiries into the land deals have revealed that the deeds had been drawn up and signed at Temple Trees and had been transferred in 2023 to a person residing in Nugegoda.
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