Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has urged the local media community and trade unions to take an active role in formulating a long-overdue National Media Policy, emphasizing that it should not be delayed any further.
Speaking during a special meeting with media stakeholders at the Ministry of Mass Media in Narahenpita, the minister noted that while previous governments had attempted similar efforts, they failed to progress beyond initial discussions.
During the meeting, stakeholders reviewed the current draft of the proposed media policy. However, several media representatives expressed dissatisfaction, stating that many organizations had not been consulted or included in the drafting process.
The discussion also highlighted the need to establish a chartered institute for Sri Lankan mass media, aimed at improving professional standards and uplifting the quality of journalism in the country.
Representatives from prominent media bodies—including the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Free Media Movement (FMM), Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Union (FMETU), Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka, Young Journalists Association (YJASL), and others—attended the meeting alongside officials from the Sri Lanka Press Council and Sri Lanka Press Institute.
