Govt always ensures media freedom - Minister Yapa

Disna MUDALIGE

The government as a policy always acts to ensure media freedom in the country, said acting Cabinet spokesman and Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Information Department yesterday, he said that the government will continue to protect media freedom.

He pointed out that Sri Lanka has not imposed any orders of censorship and media freedom flourishes within the country.

Answering a question by a journalist, the minister said that the government objected to the Right to Information Bill presented by UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya in Parliament last Tuesday because he went against the decisions of the Party Leaders’ Meeting.

The minister said that the government is holding discussions regarding the Right to Information Bill and will introduce such an act in the future which facilitates a framework of broader powers to ensure media freedom.