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Media should provide accurate information, bare what harms social progress -Sunil Sarath Perera

by Colombo East Group Correspondent

It is incumbent upon the media to provide accurate information, to enhance moral and cultural values and assist in the maintenance and development of social harmony. Yet what is considered detrimental to social progress may be bared said Sunil Sarath Perera, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources speaking on 'Media and the people' at a public meeting sponsored by the Saviya Foundation of Colombo, at the Pannaloka Hall, Vijayarama, Wellawatte last Saturday.

A relevant nationalist, national media policy has become a dire necessity in the present context more than ever before. A concern about the quality of the media has received emphasis in various international media conferences in recent time. This emphasis clearly indicates the importance of the national media falling in line with the standard of the international media. In this context it is essential to have a national television which is committed to the common weal rather than financial profit.

In today's national media, the development communication that existed a few decades ago is not quite noticeable. It is a known fact that there was at that time a section devoted to development in broadcasting. But today it is totally absent.

A country which is treading a path of development should seek to find how the intelligent youth could be involved in the development process, with moral integrity. This is an area which warrants special study. in formulating a national media policy it is necessary to lay emphasis on moral values and discipline. Moral values may be considered the vital element of culture. However culture could be defined in many ways. The discipline in human society may be considered a moral ingredient.

It may not be obligatory on the members of a community to uphold moral values of high quality. Some of them may not necessarily abide by them. However generally most people are committed to observe moral conduct.

Modernisation is appropriate concept. The media, particularly the electronic media undergo rapid modernising changes. Yet in the process of modernization culture, ethics and essential values cannot be ignored. Some who handle the media seem to think that turning everything upside-down is modernisation. Those who talk of modernisation superficially ought to perceive the direction in which the world is moving. It is opportune to think seriously how the media should be planned for the 21st century.

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