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IMA voices concern over arrest of LankaeNews editor

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Internet Media Action (IMA) yesterday expressed profound concern over the arrest of veteran journalist Sandaruwan Senadheera, editor of the Lanka E News, at Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday (11) as he returned to the country from the UK after 16 years. A statement signed by IMA representative Sampath Samarakoon said Senadheera had fled Sri Lanka during the administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa after receiving death threats amid a climate of intimidation against journalists. The organisation noted that his departure also followed the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda and an arson attack on the Lanka e News office in the early hours of January 30, 2011.

According to IMA, Senadheera had since continued his journalistic work from overseas through the Lanka e News website while advocating democratic governance in Sri Lanka. The group added that he had also extended ideological support to the political movement NPP during its rise to power.

IMA said Senadheera was reportedly arrested as a suspect in connection with a legal case filed under a previous administration. However, the organisation said the arrest had raised fresh concerns within the media community about the possible re-emergence of political witch-hunts and suppression of journalists reminiscent of earlier periods.

“The present government has a responsibility to dispel these concerns,” the statement said.

The organisation urged the authorities to ensure Senadheera’s personal safety while in custody and to guarantee that any legal proceedings against him are conducted transparently and free of political vendetta.

IMA also called on the government to uphold its commitments to protect the professional safety of journalists and safeguard freedom of expression.

“Actions of this nature, which evoke the dark era of journalist persecution, constitute a threat to democracy,” the statement said, urging authorities to intervene to ensure justice in the matter.



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Payment of Compensation to the people who have lost their cultivable lands in implementing the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project

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Approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 27-06-2012 to provide cultivable agricultural lands from the lower Uma Oya valley to 276 farming families in Hali-Ela, Walimada, and Uva Paranagama Divisional Secretariat Divisions who have lost their cultivable lands due to the acquisition of lands for the
Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project.

However, the aforementioned proposal could not be implemented due to the encroachment of a large portion of the identified lands by unauthorized persons, heavy forest cover, the threats posed by wild elephants, remoteness from their original settlements, and difficulties in adapting to other environmental conditions and social anomalies.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to pay an estimated compensation of Rs. 12 lakhs for each of these 276 farming families, based on the
recommendations submitted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to provide solutions for the issues arising in the implementation of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project.

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Draft Bill of the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka to be Gazzated

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Policy approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 07.04.2025 to prepare a draft bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka in order to accomplish the requirement of a training institution to carry out studies in order to create chartered media professionals and mould intelligent media personalities with skills in order to enhance the quality and standard of the media society.

Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the final draft prepared by the Legal Draftsman for the purpose.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to publish the draft bill of Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka in the Government Gazette Notification and thereafter submit the same for the concurrence of the House.

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Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 to be amended

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The Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 has enabled provisions to impose telecommunication levy. The budget 2026 has proposed to introduce amendments for the act including changes imposed from time to time regarding the telecommunication levy.

Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated a draft bill for
amending the Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 including provisions to extend applicable to envisage all the tax amounts applicable from the year 2015 along with the telecommunication levy existing at present, applicable of taxes on unrecovered revenue (bad debts) and to extend the provisions of that act to cater the telecommunication suppliers.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the  President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said draft bill in the Government Gazette Notification and subsequently to submit the same for the concurrence of the House.

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