SLBC has no control over channels

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Leader of the House and Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament yesterday that the Mass Media and Information Ministry has issued 14 temporary licenses for Telecasting and Radio broadcasting centers during the period of June 22, 2007 to June 15, 2009.

The Minister further said that licenses had been issued according to the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Act No. 6 of 1982 and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Act No. 37 of 1966 following the procedures adopted in the past. Among them, six temporary licenses for telecasting channels, seven temporary licenses for radio broadcasting and one temporary license for satellite telecasting channel have been issued in the past two years. Minister de Silva was responding to an oral question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake.

The Minister further said that the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Act had been enacted only to issue licenses. This Act does not control the channels under any circumstances.

He said that the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation does not come under the purview of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission except when allocating radio frequencies.

He further said that steps are under way by the Ministry to draft a new Act.