News

Broadcasting Authority Bill to be given to media institutions

Published

1 month ago

April 28, 2023

editor

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Authority Bill will be given to media institutions and the MPs to study in the next few weeks, Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reform Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said in Parliament yesterday (27).

The Minister said this in response to a question asked by Galle District SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilaka from Media Minister Bandula Gunawardana.

Minister Gunawardana who answered the question first said that there are 25 registered television channels and 51 registered radio channels in the country.

“There is a large disparity between the conditions of national television and radio channels. There is a serious disparity in the granting of licenses to individual radio and television channels. There are those that have been given licenses without any formality or regularity. We are not responsible for any of these. It has happened according to different circumstances.

“As the minister, I requested special permission from the Cabinet to issue licenses with transparency. Accordingly, a special sub-committee chaired by Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was appointed by the Cabinet. A large amount of work on the Broadcasting Authority Bill has now been completed.

“Recently, we made an inquiry whether there is a possibility of starting an educational channel. The Minister of Education and I made efforts in this regard. When we used the given symbols for this educational channel, there were obstacles to the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the Independent Television Network. Therefore, we both informed the Cabinet that it is not possible to run a separate channel for education. Accordingly, it was cancelled.”

Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the sub-committee appointed by the Cabinet currently works on the Bill.

“Studies and final discussions are almost done. In a week or two, the new Broadcasting Authority Bill will be given to the media institutions, the MPs and anyone who is interested in this matter to study it. Only after that we will bring it to Parliament,” he said.

News

Cabinet green light to ratify Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Published

14 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

Cabinet approval has been granted to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and to take the necessary steps for legislation to enforce the provisions of the agreement.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Sep. 10, 1996. By the treaty, member states agreed to ban “any nuclear weapons test or other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world. So far, 186 countries have signed the agreement and 177 countries have ratified the agreement.

Sri Lanka signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on October 24, 1996. Sri Lanka is currently cooperating with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the areas of training, capacity development, data and information sharing. Sri Lanka’s ratification of the treaty would recognize Sri Lanka’s diplomatic role as an active proponent of international peace and security in a world free of nuclear weapons.

According to the government, ratifying the agreement will also enable the country to obtain useful data for civil and scientific purposes that will benefit many developing countries including Sri Lanka, such as tsunami warnings, climate change and geographical studies.

News

Overseas travel ban slapped on Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Published

14 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court has issued an overseas travel ban on Ahila Ilankai Thamil Congress (AITC) MP – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam over the recent incident of verbally abusing police officers during a function, police spokesman – SSP Nihal Thalduwa says.

Yesterday, the magistrate ordered to remand the AITC’s main female organizer in the North – East region, over the incident.

News

Verdict on petition challenging Diana Gamage’s MP seat, postponed

Published

14 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Court of Appeal has deferred the pronouncement of the verdict on the petition filed seeking an order to annul the Parliamentary seat of State Minister Diana Gamage.

Accordingly, the verdict is expected to be pronounced on the 25th of July.

The petition was called this morning before President of the Court of Appeal Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A Marikkar.

Court heard arguments pertaining to the petition previously and was expected to announce the verdict today.

The writ petition was filed before the Court of Appeal calling for State Minister Diana Gamage to be stripped of her Parliamentary seat by activist Oshala Herath on the 15th of November 2022.

State Minister Gamage, the Immigration and Emigration Controller, the Minister of Public Security, the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the National Election Commission and its members, and the General Secretary of Parliament were cited as respondents in the petition.

(newsradio.lk)