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Sri Lanka Parliamentary Media Committee set-up

The Sri Lanka Parliamentary Media Committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Ravindra Randeniya, Member of Parliament, states Ravindra Randeniya, MP in a press release.

The Committee will work towards achieving the Freedom of Information as a legal and enforceable right. It will also undertake formulating standards and consider codes already in existence in the other Countries.

Speaker Joseph Michael Perera said the inaugural meeting that there should be a presumption in favour of disclosure and governments should promote a culture of openness. He also added that though standards could be formulated considering what is already in place but ours must reflect local circumstances as well.

A comprehensive report submitted by Randeniya on Parliament and the Media -Securing an Effective Relationship was also presented at the meeting.

The Committee will undertake to improve the flow of information between citizens and the elected representatives and the Government. In the process it will take cognizance of the fact that the parliamentarians, journalists and the Public should have access to print, broadcast and Inter-net based media.

It will also embark on improving the coverage of Parliamentary activities and consider making proposals to open all process of Parliament including the work of its Committees.

The Committee will also recommend that schedules of Committee meetings be provided to Media, discuss about broadcasting of Parliamentary proceedings and greater media coverage which would also help raise the quality of debate.

The following were elected as office bearers of the Association:

Chairman: Ravindra Randeniya, MP, Secretary: Jayantha Jayaweera, MP, Treasurer: Edward Gunasekara, MP and Jt. Asst. Secretary: Sarath Radalage, Principal Officer Foreign Relations.

The Committee Members: Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, MP, D.M. Jayaratne, MP, C. Sathasivam, MP, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, MP, Thilina Bandara Tennakoon, MP, Duminda Dissanayake, MP, Bimal Ratnayake, MP, Douglas Devananda, MP, D. Sithadthan, MP, Gayantha Karunatillaka, MP, Jayantha, Ketagoda, MP, Sanjeewa Kaviratne, MP, R. Yograjan, MP, Ananda Abeywickrema, MP, Anura Gopallawa, MP, Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe, MP, M.B.A. Azeez, MP, H.M.M. Harees, MP, Justin Galappatty, MP. 

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