Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake is yet to make the formal appointment of a Competent Authority to monitor the state-run electronic media during the Presidential election campaign despite assurances he has given to opposition political parties.
A former Government Agent Jayampathy Hettiarachchi has been named as the nominee for the post but is yet to receive the formal letter of appointment, the Sunday Times learns.
An office within the Elections Secretariat is being set up for this purpose.
He is to be appointed under the powers granted to the Elections Commissioner in terms of the Competent Authority (Powers and Functions) Act of 2002.
The law gives the Competent Authority wide ranging powers including supervision and control over programmes. He is also empowered to ensure compliance with certain conditions including accuracy and impartiality in news presented by these media institutions as well as ensuring programmes do not include anything which is against good taste or decency, incite a person to commit a crime or lead to disorder, offend racial or religious susceptibilities or offend public feeling. |
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