New legislation would be enacted next month to set up a separate Board of Censors to monitor locally produced and imported television programmes, Cultural and Aesthetic Affairs Minister T.B. Ekanayaka said.
The Minister said the draft Bill would be presented to the Cabinet next month and that it was backed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa who had received complaints of substandard programmes being aired. It is a major concern now, the minister said.
He said the move was a result of numerous complaints received from parents and other concerned citizens regarding the poor quality of the programmes, claiming that some of the programmes aired had given rise to a number of social problems.
“Most of these programmes are substandard and target teenagers and young adults. They give young people a wrong message about life,” he said.
The minister added the Board of Censors would consist of eminent persons in various fields and will be similar to the board that scrutinizes films shown in the country. |
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