Speaker summons SLBC Chairman and Mass Media Sec. over partial coverage by state media institutions

Taking into consideration several complaints made by MPs that the state media institutions were carrying out their operations in a partial manner, the Speaker today summoned the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Chairman Dr. Somarathna Dissanayake and the Mass Media Ministry Secretary Sunil Hettiarachchi for discussions.

In a statement, the Speaker's media division said the Speaker summoned the two officials to ascertain the reasons behind the suspensions of the live broadcasts of the Parliamentary sessions, given the responsibility the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) had undertaken to broadcast parliament sessions live.

The Speaker pointed out the need for state media institutions to act with full responsibility in the face of the current crisis situation in the country. He also pointed out that the activities of state media institutions such as the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Independent Television Network and the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon, had caught the attention of the Parliament.

Accordingly, the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media said that immediate attention would be directed towards these matters and that instructions would be issued to the state media institutions.  

Also, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation  expressed his regret for the suspension of  the live broadcasts and pledged that the situation would be rectified as soon as possible.