ANCL, a shining example - Wimal

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

There is a media culture today which incites conflict in the country, said Construction Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

He was speaking while participating in the first anniversary celebrations of the Janasewana monthly publication at the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) yesterday.

"There are many newspapers and TV channels in the country giving way to stiff competition to provide latest news. Because of this, these newspapers and TV channels create unwanted problems while enhancing the prevailing problems. Most newspapers highlight negative news. As a result there is no space for positive news," the minister said.

He said the media has a big responsibility to make people aware of the government's development activities.

"If a newspaper or other media try to provide news about the progress of the government's development activities, they are labelled as the government's mouthpiece. There is no independent media in the world. Every newspaper is a mouthpiece of someone. ANCL renders a great service for the betterment of the country by providing accurate information about the government's development activities and other plans to the public," Weerawansa said.

"Some media derived many advantages from the war. There is no war now. So, they are trying to highlight crimes. Crime was rampant during the war. But they were not highlighted. Some media give a wrong message to the public by highlighting criminal activities. As a result, some people believe the government encourages criminals without enforcing the law. The government is making a major effort to control crime. Some recent incidents prove that the law is enforced against criminals irrespective of their positions," he said.

The minister said there is progress in the government's development activities. "The country is moving towards a positive path. As a ministry we have a big responsibility to support the government to make it realise the Mahinda Chinthana Future Vision. Our ministry is engaged in a large number of development activities to realise the people's housing dream. We have limited space in the media to carry this information to the people. ANCL has helped us to fill that space," Weerawansa said.

Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne said if a place or a building completed 100 years it is considered a national heritage site.

ANCL is a national heritage which does a great service for the progressive development of the country.Janasevana publication contributes much to fulfil the people's housing needs, he said.

"ANCL could engage in a number of monthly publications of various ministries such as Oruwella, Samupadeepani, Uththama Shramapuja, Samurdhi etc under the guidance of Chairman Bandula Padmakumara. ANCL is on a successful journey as we have a chairman with A-Z knowledge about newspapers," ANCL Editorial Director Seelarathna Senarath said.

ANCL Chairman and Managing Director Bandula Padmakumara, ANCL Editorial Director Seelarathna Senarath, Administration and Legal Director Rasanga Harischandra, Daily News Editor in Chief Lynn Ockersz, Dinamina Acting Editor Gamini Jayalath, Janasevana newspaper designer, ANCL Layout and Graphic Designing Managing Director Samantha Karunasekara, department heads and ministry officials participated.