Distribution of laptops among media personnel:

Minister flays former top official for delay

The Minister of Mass Media and Information strongly refuted newspaper reports alleging that the 500 laptops purchased for distribution among the media personnel are gathering dust in the Ministry.

Responding to a question raised by a media personnel at the media conference held at the Ministry of Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that on several occasions he had instructed former Secretary of the Ministry to expedite the distribution of these laptops but he considers the failure to carry out his instructions by the former Secretary as a deliberate act.

He said that at the progress review meeting of the Ministry held recently he had instructed the new Secretary Dr. Charita Herath to expedite the distribution under a clear mechanism.Explaining further, the Minister said the Ministry of Mass Media and Information is implementing several programmes to provide special concessions to the Media Institutions and Media personnel under the “Mahinda Chinthana – Future Vision”.

He said that these programmes include providing scholarship for media personnel to follow degree and diploma courses to enhance their professional knowledge, providing concessionary loans for the media personnel to purchase equipment such as cameras and recorders required for their profession and providing of Laptops to the media institutions for distribution among the media personnel in such institutions.

The Minister explained that calling tenders for the purchase of Laptops have been delayed until December 15, and 11 proposals were received from five institutions. Accordingly the Ministry received Laptops worth Rs.30,154,000.00 at a cost of Rs. 60,308 each and the total amount has been paid by the Ministry on April 18.