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by Ananda Kannangara

Mass Communication Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar on Friday highlighted the invaluable service by media personnel even facing hardships.

The Free Media Act (FMA) will be submitted in Parliament shortly, he said, delivering the keynote address at the seventh anniversary ceremony to honour journalists, conducted by the Ampara District Coastal Area Journalists Association (ADCAJA) at the BMICH.

The Minister said this Act will give the opportunity to media personnel to express their views and ideas independently without fear.

The Minister requested journalists not to indulge in unethical or corrupt activities which can tarnish their lives.

He said it is the journalists' duty to use their freedom to express the truth to the public.

While thanking the ADCAJA for organising the felicitation ceremony, the Minister said programmes like this will encourage journalists.

Markar asked why state media personnel gave more publicity to ruling governments in the past.

"The public in the past didn't show any interest to watch programmes on the state owned Rupavahini channel because the channel gave unnecessary publicity to the Government," he said.

"The UNP Government changed that attitude and extended the opportunity even to the state owned media to act independently," he said.

Markar also spoke about the peaceful atmosphere in the country due to cessation of hostilities between the Government and the LTTE.

"Although we regained independence from foreign rulers, it is pathetic that our people had to face another war for nearly 20 years during this short period of 55 years," he said.

"We are happy that the LTTE too accepted the peace accord. During the past few months, they even assisted security personnel to remove land mines which they had buried," the minister said.

He said the Government's far-sighted policies enabled to save a colossal sum spent on the war during the past two decades.

The peace talks have brought fruitful results to all communities.

He assured that the peace process will bring a solution to the problems of not only Tamils but also Muslims and Sinhalese in the North and South.

The Minister also recalled how Sri Lanka got independence from British rulers after making sacrifices. He thanked the late Premier D.S. Senanayake and also leaders like T.B. Jayah for their effort to regain independence.

"The independence regained by us must be preserved for the benefit of all," the Minister added.

Journalists honoured were A.M.D. Tyronne Devota (Director, MTV, MBC), Victor Ivan (Editor Ravaya), Sinha Ratnatunga (Editor Sunday Times), P. Balasingham (Deputy Editor Daily News), Iqbal Athas (Defence Journalist) and V. Thevaraj (Associate Editor) and Provincial Correspondents Alhaj U.K. Samsudeen, M.I. Samsudeen, M.I. Ariff, P.M.M. Abdul Cader and S. Sirajudeen. 

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