Ravaya speaks to people's minds - acting Mass Media minister

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Ravaya is a news paper which speaks to the people's minds not to the heart, said acting Mass Media and Information Minister and Deputy Economic Development Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane participating in a seminar held at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies Auditorium Tuesday on the theme "Sri Lanka's Alernative Media - The Ravaya at 25 years " which was organized by the Government Information Department.

Minister Lakshman Yapa

"Ravaya provides new ideas for social changes.Though we cannot consider it as a fully alternative media, Ravaya talks about many problems relating to society," the minister said.

Government Information Department Director General Prof. Ariyaratne Athugala said that alternative media have special qualities.

Alternative media are not just topical or special interest publications, just liberal or conservative in their politics, appealing just to an elite, narrow audience, structured in accordance with an to help reinforce society's defining social relationships, controlled by and controlling of other major institutions, particularly corporations, focused on maximization of profits, just mainstream media with economic problems. "Alternative media are democratic in internal structure and in their relationship to readers, viewers, etc., seek broad, non-elite audience who want an alternative to some other general news source, structured to subvert existing social and/or economic power structure,see themselves as part of a project to establish new ways of organizing media and social activity, interested in more than profits; sees audience not as consumers, but as citizens and constituents." said the director general.

Ravaya Chief Editor Victor Ivan said that the President, Opposition Leader and other leaders of the country has a responsibility to reorganize the political structure of the country.

"Before 1977, politicians didn't spend money for elections. But today some politicians spend millions on elections. Because of this situation, some politicians have to depend on black money though they don't like it.

"Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with beautiful citizens. The only problem of the country is the political turmoil.

The media also have a responsibility to encourage leaders to change the prevailing political structure" he said.

Information Director Wasantha Priya Ramanayake, Kelaniya University Mass Media Faculty head Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa and senior lecturer Dhamma Dissanayake also spoke.