President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that he regards the media not as outsiders but as an integral part of the effort to build a better state and improve the lives of all citizens.

He made these remarks during a meeting held on Thursday (05) with the heads of electronic media organizations at the Presidential Secretariat.

The President highlighted that the people expect a good political culture and elected the current government to fulfill that expectation. He invited all media organizations to collaborate in fostering the new political, social, and economic changes that the people desire.

Additionally, President Dissanayake urged media heads to refrain from reporting false information that could harm national harmony. While affirming that the media has the right to question or criticize the government on political and economic matters, he stressed the importance of responsible reporting.

Recalling the country’s history of enduring decades of war, the President declared that racism would never be permitted again. He also assured that he would not compromise or restrict media freedom in any way.

During the meeting, the President elaborated on the government’s stance on several critical issues under public discussion. He outlined programs such as the initiative to eradicate poverty, a pressing issue, and the Clean Sri Lanka program.

The event was attended by members of the Sri Lanka Broadcasters’ Guild., along with senior officials, including heads of electronic media institutions, group directors, chief executive officers, and general managers.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the need for the support of all professionals to digitize the country and actively participate in the process, at a time when the expectations of the political establishment and digital technologists are aligned.

He further assured that he would firmly stand by this vision at any time.

The President shared these remarks while addressing officials of the Ministry of Digital Economic Affairs after assuming duties as the Minister of Digital Economic Affairs on Thursday (05).

Highlighting the benefits of digitalization, the President stated that it has the potential to enhance the efficiency of economic activities and elevate the country’s economy to greater heights.

The President highlighted that the government’s primary objectives are poverty eradication, transforming social attitudes, and advancing digitalization.

The President emphasized that a country’s development cannot be achieved solely by constructing buildings. Reflecting on the past, he recalled the existence of a dedicated construction ministry two decades ago and noted that currently, construction activities are being undertaken by every ministry.

He revealed that during discussions with the Ministry of Education authorities and university chancellors last year, no attention was given to education reforms, with the focus remaining solely on building construction.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also highlighted that despite the Ministry of Labor possessing two large buildings, there has been no reduction in public queues, stressing that digitalization is essential to address such issues effectively.

The Ministry has outlined a plan to generate an income of USD 15 billion within the next five years through the digital economy.

Efforts will also be directed towards increasing the digital workforce to 200,000 and digitizing the entire country within the same timeframe.

Engineer Eranga Weeraratne assumed duties as the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy during this occasion.

The event was attended by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Senior Advisor to the President on Digital Affairs Hans Wijayasuriya, who is also the Chairman of ICTA, along with a group of officials

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed officials to follow a proper mechanism when issuing excise licenses.

These instructions were given during a meeting with senior Excise Department officials at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday(05).

The President stressed the importance of not abusing power to act unlawfully and emphasized the need to consistently uphold the law. He also urged officials to ensure timely tax collection.

The discussion highlighted challenges in collecting excise taxes and the irregularities that arise in the process. New strategies were explored, including collecting overdue taxes, revoking licenses of blacklisted institutions, and addressing entities that fail to collect taxes properly.

The discussion also covered the shortcomings of the existing rules and regulations regarding tax collection. The President was made aware of the issues arising in the tax collection process, as well as the weaknesses in the recruitment system for excise officers.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake noted the public’s negative perception of the Excise Department and stressed the importance of managing these institutions in a way that supports the country’s economy.

Officials also briefed the President on challenges in the production and packaging processes, highlighting the negative impact of artificial toddy on the public.

Commissioner of Excise Rohana Senarathna, Deputy Commissioner R.V.S. Tissa Kumara, Assistant Commissioner M. J. De Silva, Chief Financial Officer G. A. Chandani, Chief Accountant W. R. Paranagama, and other senior officials of the Excise Department participated in the discussion.