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TV rating system incorrect & biased: Palpita

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The rating system of television channels is incorrect and it is done in an irregular and biased manner, Mass Media Ministry Secretary Anusha Palpita said.

He said this at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) meeting held recently (25) to look into the Auditor General’s reports of the Government Information Department for 2019, 2020 and 2021 and the examination of the current performance. The Committee was chaired by State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna.

Speaking further, Mr. Palpita said that in order to calculate the rating, a device is installed in about 400 randomly selected TV sets for the purpose of collecting data.

He pointed out that three major media organizations have bought about 300 television sets equipped with these devices by giving money to the institutions that performed the calculations and because of this the data received is inaccurate.

Since there is more responsibility for the state media than the private media organizations, he said that it is not possible for them to work with the motive of getting their ranks increased.

The matter concerning the media accreditation cards for journalists was also discussed and the Committee further discussed the preparation of a system for evaluating journalists who contribute to providing news more actively.

Furthermore, the current functioning of 18 functions which were stated as the main objectives of this department were also discussed. A discussion at length was held about the preparation of a systematic programme to provide local information to foreign countries and foreign information to the people of Sri Lanka through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Discussions were also held regarding the negative tape machine and the positive tape machine with an obsolete technology purchased from France at a cost of Rs.108 million rupees. The officials pointed out that this machine was purchased in 1999 and this technology is outdated.

The officials pointed out that this machine has not been used even once and it cannot be sold for iron as it is made of Cheenachatti.

Furthermore, a discussion was held about making the Independent Television Network and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation profitable, and regarding the action plan of the Government Information Department and its progress.

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Samurdhi Dept. told to conduct survey to identify poverty-stricken families

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The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis has instructed the Department of Samurdhi Development to conduct a quick survey to identify other poverty-stricken families who need to be empowered.

This was taken into discussion when the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis met in Parliament on Sep. 19 chaired by MP Gamini Waleboda Member of Parliament.

Commenting further, the Member of Parliament stated to the officials of the Department of Samurdhi Development to appoint a Committee together with the Ministry of Finance, the Welfare Benefits Board and the Department of Census and Statistics to take the necessary measures.

The discussion was held with the aim of reviewing the goals of the Department of Samurdhi Development to reduce the impact of the economic crisis and the current plans to achieve those goals in the year 2024.

The officials of the Department of Samurdhi Development, who presented the facts, mentioned that at present there are more than sixteen hundred thousand Samurdhi beneficiary families. Accordingly, the department has planned to empower forty-one hundred thousand families in the two years from 2024 to 2026.

The Chair reminded the officials that the responsibility of empowering all families who are affected by the economic crisis and those who are not is entrusted to the Department of Samurdhi Development. The Committee also ordered the Department of Samurdhi Development to immediately prepare a plan to eradicate poverty within the next five years.

The Leader of the Opposition – Sajith Premadasa, addressing the Committee, pointed out the dire need to first establish technical definitions to identify poverty.

The Committee also discussed about the proposed number of new employees in the department, which has been presented in relation to the future plans of the Department of Samurdhi Development. The Committee Chair pointed out that the sacrifices made by the officers of the Department of Samurdhi Development Department during the Covid pandemic cannot be forgotten. The Chair instructed the officials of the Management Services Department to take into consideration the work done by them in the past while approving the proposed number of new employees. Accordingly, the Committee ordered the Management Services Department to come to a final decision about the proposed staff of the Samurdhi Development Department within two weeks and to approve it.

The Committee also discussed the people who have not yet received their pension due to the retired officials of the Samurdhi Development Department and the related reasons. The Chair asked the officials of the Department of Pensions to arrange for the payment of the basic pension to the employees who have not yet received their pension.

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Inland Revenue Act to be amended

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The Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017, the Government Information Department said.

It has been proposed that it is appropriate to amend the Inland Revenue tax to enable to request tax relief by any charity establishment that provides health facilities to children with disabilities in the society joined hands with government health services / education system and that is established as a legitimate institution prioritizing the well–being of the differently-abled children in society while being established as a legitimate institution or registered under any law enforced for registering social services organizations. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the resolution prepared by the acting Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to direct the Legal Draftsman to draft a Bill to amend the Inland Revenue Act including legal provisions.

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National Debt Management Institute to be established

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The Cabinet has granted approval to establish a National Debt Management Institute.

It has been emphasized in the supplementary Budget of 2022 the importance of the establishment of a State Loan Management Institute as an institutional reformation while enhancing loan management and transparency has been recognized as a prioritized sector even under the appropriation loan facility of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Government said that technical assistance has been rendered by the IMF and the World Bank in order to establish the proposed state loan management institute.

The loan management reformation plan, loan management institutional framework and legal framework have been planned by now.

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the resolution tabled by the acting Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies to direct the Legal Draftsman to draft the Bill of the State Loan Management Act.

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