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Address by Minister of Mass Communication Imtiaz Bakeer Markar on the Budget Debate recently.

It is with great pleasure and with a deep sense of responsibility today, I participate at this debate on the presentation of the first budget of the United National Party Government. Let me thank the Hon Prime Minister, for placing such great trust and confidence on me by giving me a portfolio, which he himself consider as extremely important for the nation building and for the future socio-economic development of the country.

Sir, therefore, I must say that I am fully alive and conscious to the expectations of the people who have twice given a clear mandate to the government to charter their future. Their expectations are quite clear in their mandate. It is nothing but, to restore peace and democracy in the country, and to speedily implement an economic development program to rebuild the ruined economy. Thereby, to lay strong economic foundation, not only to benefit them, but for the future generation as well.

As you all know, my Ministry encompasses a wide area in the communication field: media and telecommunication. Changes that one would envisage, in both these areas have to be carefully considered, and well thought, as the outcome of such changes would be fundamentally important, to all other areas of development planned by the government.

So, by the grace of God I think I would have the foresight, the courage and the strength to charter its course to the desired destination. I am confident that all of you in the government and the opposition will give me your blessings and support towards that effort of mine.

Your criticism will be a beacon shedding light to traverse this difficult path ahead of me.

Free media environment

Hon Speaker, in the field of media, the people's mandate to us was very clear. They wanted us, to lay a strong foundation to create a free media environment unshackling it from all restrictions and inhibitions, legal and otherwise, in order to make the democratic form of government functional and meaningful. In all our efforts, to restore democracy in the country, freedom of media will be fundamental and vital. Voice of the people need to be heard. Accountability and transparency of the government will be achievable only if the media is allowed to discharge its responsibility, without fear or favour.

The Hon. Prime Minister in seeking his mandate, from the people, made a solemn pledge, that his government will make their expectations a reality. So, the responsibility of translating that into action lies well within the ambit of my Ministry. I am happy to say, that we are working towards that end. Action is now taken, from several fronts to bring about the required legislative reforms and enactments.

A committee headed by the Prime Minister's Secretary, at which my Secretary is a member, is handling these matters with time targets in mind. We are hopeful that we will be able to accomplish this massive media reforms program within this year itself. Already action has been taken, to amend the provisions in the penal code on criminal defamation.

A freedom of media act, is in the formation giving mediamen, free access to information source, without any inhibition. I intend introducing this act in Parliament within this year. A Media military charter is under preparation, to bring about closer understanding, between the security and the media personnel, so that, they will be able to cover defence related matters without harassment. Abolition of the Press Council, is also in the agenda.

It will be replaced with Press Complaint Commission, with much independence in its functioning. While making all these legislative and institutional changes, to create a free media environment, we also have not forgotten fact, the need to upgrade the professional standards of the media persons, which would help creating a media culture, conducive to the working of a democratic system in a country.

Today, there are large number of young people joining both electronic and the print media, only with basic qualification, who needs conceptual guidance and technical training to be able to be responsible citizens of the 'Fourth State'. Both, the media community and the government have acknowledged, this need and action, is now planning to establish a Media Training Institute to fulfil that need. We are looking for suitable modality for such institute and several donor agencies, such as UNESCO and SIDA have expressed their willingness to support this course. We will also encourage private initiatives on these matters.

I have not forgotten the journalists, demand for pension benefits. The draft Bill is with the legal draftsman. Soon, I will take action to present this in parliament with Cabinet sanction. So, we have been able to take several actions to move forward on the media reforms program, during the first 100 days in office. I am hopeful, that we will be able to accomplish this task, before the end of this year.

We will revive all institutions

You all very well know, that the most of the institutions in the Media Ministry are in very bad shape. Due to mismanagement, most of them are in a poor financial situation. SLBC is finding it difficult, even, to pay the monthly salaries. So, is with the SLRC. Due to heavy politicization in the past, there was a tendency for the audience, to move away from state media. Advertisers deserted the channels. Deposits that were there as savings have been spirited off. Profit making SLBC in 1994 has ended up today in virtual bankruptcy.

The people's Alliance still owes approximately Rs. 46 million to the ANCL as dues for political propaganda. The management has even written, to Her Excellency, for which, so far no reply has been received. The Department of Information was turned into a party propaganda arm of the People's Alliance. This is one of the oldest institutions, which had character, stature and commanded high respect from the people. But people despised the way these institutions were used for political purposes. Sir, I am happy to say, that present management is making every effort to salvage these national institutions from the progress of these institutions.

Even the Government Press was in disarray. You can remember earlier, we used to get the hanzard on the following day of the debate. You also can remember, during the past few years, it took at least a week to get the hanzard. We have now reversed this situation. Now it is there on your table at the right time. Government Press was proud to print a stamp for the first time. A historical event in its 200th Anniversary. The printing school under this institution has to be developed. There is an insatiable demand for technicians in the printing industry.

You all will admit that there is a marked change in the content of the state media programs. It is there in the news reporting of the SLRC, SLBC, ITN, ANCL,. In fact I have received a letter from Sihala Urumaya, lavishly praising ITN news reportage. It is really an encouragement to all of us. Sir, it is no secret that in the past politicians wrote some of the headlines of the ANCL newspapers.

But, this culture has now changed. We have not made any changes in the editorial staff. All those who were there during the PA government are still in the same places. If at all if there were any changes made it was on the side of the administration. Those were also done to correct certain glaring injustices done to certain employees during the previous regime.

In addition to the Media Ministry, I am also entrusted with Post and Telecommunications Ministry. As I said earlier, it is critically important to the future development of the economy. Prime Minister constantly remind me of this responsibility. He says that the future employment generation should be mostly in this sector. As the highways and railways were pivotal to the development in the 19th and 20th centuries it is the information superstructure that would determine the future of a modern nation in the 21st century.

The country must develop the capacities both in technology and human resources to be able to provide a wide variety of services that will be in demand, by the future information society. People have to be allowed to travel, speedily and cost effectively in the information society. People have to be allowed to travel, speedily and cost effectively in the future of modern nation in the 21st century. The country must develop the capacities both in technology and human resources to be able to provide a wide variety of services that will be in demand by the future information society.

People have to be allowed to travel speedily and cost effectively in the information superhighway. Large volume of voice and data should be allowed to be transported at low cost. It appears to me that man's quest for new technologies in telecommunication would be never ending. Though we have achieved certain mileage in this respect, we have a long way to go.

Countries in the region such as Singapore, Malaysia, India, Thailand is far ahead of us. So, we have to catch up. Not 'leap forward' but we are compelled to 'leap frog'. Singapore is known as the most wired nation in the world. So if we want to develop Sri Lanka as a service hub to the region we have to move fast. We have to fast move in to the 3G technology in telecommunication.

Allow investment to flow in

This means investment. The government alone will not be able to make such a massive investment to acquire the ever changing sophisticated technology in the telecommunication field. So we have to get both the local and foreign investors, to move in fast. For them to come we must instill confidence in them. We should clearly articulate the government's policy for the development of this sector.

The investors will look for a clear policy favourable to them and political stability in the country. We are working on all these matters. The government's policy on telecommunication was published recently in the papers. All opinions and points of view expressed on this will be carefully considered and the policy will be further strengthen, through public and stakeholder debate. The telecommunication act will be further amended putting in place a legal framework favourable for development.

A strong regulatory mechanism

The TRCL will be further strengthened. The government will relegate itself to a strong and fare regulator, allowing the private sector to play a major role in the area. This will be the approach to the development of the telecommunication sector. But from a social point of view, in order to provide equity and justice, we will intervene with suitable programs. Today, people often talk about the growing 'digital gap'. Still, a large section of the population do not have easy access to telecommunication facilities. We cannot allow the rural poor to be left out in this revolution. Internet is yet a dream for rural youths. This is where the state intervention is required. We are mindful of these issues.

A postal service

Postal Department is yet one of the oldest institutions in my Ministry. But unfortunately, it has not been able to change with the time.

There are ever increasing new demands on the postal services, by the changing economy. Need is increasingly felt to streamline the management providing it, the capabilities to respond to these demands. Quite contrary to the expectation the Postal Department today, is incapable of providing the very basic services to customer satisfaction. The delivery of letters now take more than two to three days.

But, in the good old days letters posted from any point of the country, reached its destination within 24 hours. Something has gone radically wrong. Telegrams reach when the funerals are over. It is my view that this situation has to be changed. Protecting the monopoly of the department for sentimental reasons will be totally unfair by the people who are suffering due to lack of quality services.

If the government is unable to deliver the services, we should allow the private sector to participate. We shall liberalize this field, allowing the private sector to engage in all activities, hitherto done by the department alone. In the meantime, we shall make all efforts to increase the efficiency and the effectiveness of the Department, by way of suitable management interventions. Workers are ready for it. With these changes, they will also get a better deal.

If there are any legal restriction inhibiting private sector participation in the postal service, we shall remove those. Let the Postal Department with its massive strength compete with the private sector. Let the Postal Department develop into a regulatory mechanism, monitoring the private sector activities.

We will look for the best model in the world to emulate.

Micro projects

Hon Speaker, having outlined certain changes that we envisage in the future in the field of media and telecommunication more of a fundamental nature we also have identified more than 13 micro projects in order to bring immediate benefits to the people.

This we were able to do during this 100 days. We will continue with those projects reaching the people in the far flung areas. We have re-introduced the mobile service system. Through the first one we held in Beruwala, we were able to clear a substantial number of applications those were in the waiting list. We were able to provide at least 650 connections on that day. It is estimated that there are over 250,000 applicants in the SLT waiting list. We shall clear this as fast as possible.

People in the plantation sector were marginalized in the provision of certain services. Still their letters are not delivered to the linerooms. They don't have post offices. These are very basic services which we have failed to provide them. In collaboration with the Ministry for Infrastructure Development for the plantation sector we are planning joint action to have postal delivery service. We will get the Agency Post Office service to move in. We intend opening, at least 60 Agency Post Offices immediately.

Alternative service provider

We will expand the Agency Post Office service to the rural sector, so there is an alternative service provider. We have already taken action to remove entry barriers thus making this venture attractive to the private sector. We hope to establish a minimum of 10 Agency Post Offices in an electorate.

Communication Centres

Along with the Post Offices, we will establish Communication Centres in the village, thus allowing them to access modern communication facilities on sharing basis. These Communication Centres will be fully equipped with computers, internet facilities, fax, long distance call facilities etc.

We also have taken action to establish GMDS system, Global Maritime Distress Signalling System. A vital service as far as commercial maritime services are concerned. Today Mobile phone is increasingly becoming a more a necessity than a luxury. It has a deep penetration potential into the rural areas. There is a clamour for the introduction of CPP in place of MPP. This issue is carefully studied to avoid any hardship to fixed phone owners, as a result of introduction of CPP. However, I wish to take a final decision on this very soon.

Rebuilding the infrastructure

Very soon we will move into the north and east to take stock of situation. There is a co-ordinating committee under the Secretary to the Prime Minister, to review the situation. We have already planned certain immediate measures to get the services restored in this war torn area.

I intend visiting the peninsula and eastern region with my officials immediately, after Sinhala Hindu New Year.

So this is how we intend moving forward. Overall, it is the desire of the government led by Hon Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to develop this island to a model democracy in the region with all the vitality and vigour for growth ensuring the future generation, a place to live with pride and hope.

It is our desire to hand over this country to the future generation as a country better than what we inherited from our parents.

So, let us join in that endeavour sans confrontational politics.

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