Mediamen should work honestly - SP Minister

by Richmond WIJESEKERA Bentota Group Corr.

Mass media personnel should at all times be unbiased and make an endeavour to give accurate news, said Minister of Agriculture and Media Southern Province, Hemal Gunasekera.

He was speaking at a meeting of journalists of Southern Province held at Media Ministry, Galle.

About 100 journalists from Galle and Matara districts participated.

If the mass media personnel work honestly without fear or favour, prosperity was sure to come their way and crown their efforts with success paving the way for a better life and higher social status, he said.Media persons formed an important part of the society today.

Hence they should write with an awareness of their own rights and those of the public, the Minister said.The media is expected to be a mechanism of publicity for the Government.It should pinpoint loopholes; shortcomings and opacity in the administration in a people-friendly manner. We have rectified and adjusted our defects in response to such criticism by the media.

During the Southern Provincial Council election Mediamen acted impartially. Therefore the PA Government managed to get 2/3 majority at the election. Now it is the time to assist President Mahinda Rajapaksa to get 5/6 majority at the forth-coming Presidential election, he also said.

Secretary Ministry of Media S.P. Jayasiri Ruwanpathirana, Deputy Secretary Ms. W. Abeywardene, Journalists Sugathapala Mendis, Yatiyana Pushpakumara, Nandasiri Weligamage, Kamal Wijehewa, Richmond Wijesekera and several others also spoke.