News

Government ready to discuss controversial clause in draft

12 Jul, 2017

The Government says it is prepared to discuss with the media a controversial clause in a proposed?draft on media regulations.

The proposed draft on media regulations gives the Supreme Court (SC) the right to obtain a source of a story from journalists,?Deputy Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training and former Deputy Media Minister?Karunarathna Paranawithana said today.

He said the Government has no intention of curtailing media freedom yet if the Supreme Court feels a source needs to be revealed in national interests then the journalist must reveal the source.

Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera will head a cabinet committee to submit the Independent Media Regulatory Draft Bill.

The Bill is to be drafted following consultations with all the stakeholders.

Paranawithana said there was a feeling existing media regulatory bodies were not effective so a new law is to be introduced.

The Deputy Minister however said the final draft will be prepared after consulting the media and obtaining their proposals as well.?(Colombo Gazette)

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