Minister for proper definition of media personnel

Sandasen Marasinghe

Mass Media and Communication Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said going by current developments in the field of mass media the time has come to devise a yardstick to identify a true media practitioner.

He made this observation yesterday at the inaugural meeting for the launching of the database of diploma holders in journalism of the Colombo University held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Minister Rambukwella stated that the role of media personnel is very pivotal today in the new environment created in Sri Lanka after the elimination of terrorism to drive this nation forward to say proudly that we are Sri Lankans. He also said that the situation is created today for Sri Lankans to win the world. Stating that a person after writing an article to a website becomes a media personnel the following day Minister Rambukwella said that there should be a proper yardstick to define media personnel. The Minister also said by these means it is easy to find out who is and who is not a media personnel. It is then that the media personnel can stand with dignity.

The Minister further said that media personnel are citizens of this country and accordingly should clearly understand their responsibility.

He added that most media personnel identified themselves as those working for society but used the media in an inimical manner during the operation against terrorism. Referring to the Association founded by the diploma holders, the Minister stated that an Association should work for the good of the country and not otherwise. He added that if a particular Association is working against the country it is better not to have such an Association.

The Colombo University has been conducting diploma courses in journalism in English, Sinhala and Tamil languages since 1986 and around 1,800 have successfully completed these courses so far.

Senior Lecturer Kamal Waleboda, Edwin Ariyadasa, Senior Professor Indralal de Silva, Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama also spoke at the occasion.