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Deputy Media Minister, Dilan Perera welcomed the support of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and their assistance to journalists and media employees affected by last December 26 tsunami.

The Deputy Minister addressing a gathering of journalists at the Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) on Wednesday to commemorate the assistance offered by the IFJ to tsunami affected journalists, in collaboration with the Federation of Media Employees (FMETU), the Free Media Movement and The Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association, spelt out some thoughts on how the journalist profession could be strengthened so that democracy could be made more vibrant.

"Democracy is not only about holding elections. It is also about independent institutions like the judiciary, a vibrant civil society and most of all, a free and unhindered press. To enjoy a truly free press, it is necessary to have professional media personnel and they need to be trained and educated, adequately paid and a reasonable security of service ensured," the deputy minister said.

"A part of democracy is the presence of an active press at the district and regional level. Unfortunately, except for Uthaiyan in Jaffna, there is no regional newspaper. We must actively create press entrepreneurs in the regions by ensuring them capital, technology and skilled journalists to do the job where the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) could be of immense assistance, and play a major role in upgrading our journalists," he added.

"The tsunami which struck Sri Lanka last December and hurricane Katrina which struck the United States are lessons for us of how media dealt with sensitive issues; the former being an unforeseen event while the latter although predicted the warnings were ignored," he expressed."In the case of Sri Lanka, subsequent to the tsunami devastation our government, which works for the people worked tirelessly throughout the relief stage of the tsunami. Not one family was without shelter.

All affected were fed, children were given special attention. And disease was controlled effectively but the positive aspects of the state was rarely highlighted. He noted that in a massive operation where 80,000 had to be housed and fed, there would be failure too but it was only these rare instances that were highlighted by the media.

The Deputy Minister also stated that he had set in motion a process to provide pensions for journalists. Improvement of salaries and terms of employment of journalists needed urgent attention he pointed out and called upon the International Federation of Journalists to play a major supportive role in upgrading the journalists in Sri Lanka.

(RK)

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