Media guidelines for elections to be given legal effect

Media guidelines issued for previous elections are to due to be given legal effect, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the Cabinet meeting he said the contravention of the media guidelines will make it an electoral offence.

The Cabinet decision released by the Government Information Department said;

“Media Guidelines have been published in Extra Ordinary Gazette No. 2178/24 dated 03.06.2020 in accordance with the Article 104b (5)(A) Of the Constitution Of The Democratic Socialist Republic Of Sri Lanka. However, the measures that can be taken in case of violation of the Media Guidelines have not been inacted so far.

Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Hon. President to instruct legal draftsman to prepare a bill to include in the Presidential Elections Act, Parliamentary elections Act, Provincial Council Elections Act and Local Government Elections Ordinance the provisions making the contravention of the said Media Guidelines an electoral offence or to introduce provisions to consider the violation of media guidelines as an illegal act under the each Elections Act .”