‘Vibrant response vital to criticisms of state’

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

‘When certain allegations are levelled at the government, relevant facts and clear evidence are freely available to prove that those allegations are wrong and fabricated. But the relevant state institutions do not act promptly and communicate the truth to the media on time.

Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

‘This is why the Mass Media and Information Ministry has to come forward and act instantly to prevent the public being misled by various elements, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing a special media workshop for media Heads, media coordinators of ministers and ministries, ministry Secretaries and media spokesmen for the armed forces held at Sovereign Hotel, Rajagiriya yesterday, Minister Rambukwella said that he had been accused of washing linen of the government but he does it according to his conscience for the sake of the country and its people.

'I do this for the well-being of the country and its people. There is a huge attack going on against the government invisibly but the mechanism of replying is not adequate”, he stated.

According to Minister Rambukwella the role of the media coordinators of ministers’ and ministries’ and the secretaries and other high officials of the ministries is very important when it comes to supplying adequate and accurate information to media on time regarding issues and development programmes. Media Ministry does not receive adequate information from other ministries to communicate to the public on massive development drives implemented by the government and certain issues. If the state ministries do not communicate swiftly and on time, the public can be easily misled by various media reports.

Minister Rambukwella pointed out that the government implemented giant development projects even during the humanitarian operation. “The ministry secretaries should answer telephone calls from statem media institutions. They should answer for those calls. During the humanitarian operation everything went well because of the smooth coordination between media and state institutions. Media Centre for National Security Director General Hulugalle was available 24 hours and he answered his mobile even at midnight. Vibrant response vital to criticism of stateMahinda Chinthanaya – Vision for the future is the development plan of the government which received the public mandate. It is the responsibility of all to carry it forward.

Media Ministry Secretary W.B.Ganegala said that this is an era that the government is carrying out a massive and speedy development countrywide. This had never been happened before.

The public can be easily misled within a very short time by inaccurate media reports if the relevant state ministries do not come forward and clarify issues quickly. A wrong public opinion can be developed on anything in absence of classifications and swift communication from the government side. Therefore ministries should respond quickly and swiftly for the journalists' inquiries.

Lectures were delivered by prominent journalists who hold top positions in media institutions. Heads of state media institutions, editors of state newspapers, representatives from state media institutions, Ministry Secretaries, Media Coordinators to the Ministers and Ministries, officials of the Mass Media and Information Ministry and Defense Ministry and many others were present.