Banned station back on air

NADIRA GUNATILLEKE and UDITHA KUMARASINGHE

The Government has permitted to re-launch Raja FM radio as Ran FM after its management promised to act with sensitivity towards ethical and moral standards.

“This shows the media freedom prevailing in Sri Lanka,” Information and Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

Raja FM radio was banned by the Government after complaints against it.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Yapa said he totally rejected the presentation of facts by RFS (Reporters Without Borders).

“It is very unjustifiable and inaccurate. Arrangements will be made in the near future to conduct an assessment on media freedom in Sri Lanka.”

“In Sri Lanka, the freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution and there is a democratically elected Parliament and an independent judiciary. But a handful of persons harbour inaccurate unrealistic ideas on media freedom in Sri Lanka,” the Minister added.

Responding to questions by journalists, Yapa said there will be no price increase in milk powder until December and steps will be taken to increase the production of liquid milk in Sri Lanka.

“There is a plan to send a female elephant to Armenia and obtain two rare animals for the Dehiwala zoo,” he said.