Minister Rambukwella tells Media:

Propagate country’s new development goals

Rasika SOMARATHNA

New Mass Media and Communication Minister Keheliya Rambukwella soon after assuming duties yesterday sought the support of the Media to propagate the country’s new development goals and its ambition to achieve economic prosperity.

The Minister expressed confidence that the new situation that has succeeded the war had the potential to clear obstacles in Sri Lanka’s quest to be a prominent nation and a regional economic power and sought the support of the Media to fulfill the objectives.

He was of the opinion that as in the conflict period the Media should play a pro-active role in defining the new objectives during the post-conflict era. The Minister said that after nearly 30 years of war the people were looking at the future with new expectations and hope and the Media among others too should uphold their social responsibility in this regard.

The Minister who spoke to a section of the Media soon after assuming duties officially at the Ministry was also of the opinion that there was no proper scale to define media culture and use of force was not the mode to define its contours.

This should be based on knowledge, vision and attitude of media personnel/organizations and an impartial scrutiny into their own code of conduct, he added and quoted the term ”we have the right to disagree, dispute, dis-believe but not dis-credit.”

Minister Rambukwella further said that he had a close rapport with media for years and added that he approached the subject with a very open mind. Thus he said that the Media did not need the support of a third party for dispute resolution but could approach him directly when in need.

Responding to a question the Minister said that he had a responsibility in safeguarding the interests of both the media and the public and that he intended to come up with a mechanism which would find a fine balance between the two after discussions with relevant officials.

The Minister during his brief speech also acknowledged the support of the Kandy district polity whom he said had supported him throughout his political career setting aside petty political differences.

Mass Media and Communication Ministry Secretary W.B. Ganegala welcomed the new Minister. Heads of Media Institutions, journalists, politicians and well-wishers too were present.

Before assuming the portfolio of Mass Media and Communication Minister Rambukwella held the portfolio of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare in the previous Cabinet and was also the Government Defence Spokesman.