27 April 2023 01:07 pm Views - 750
The procedure followed in granting licenses to all TV and radio channels are questionable, Media Minister Bandula Gunawardene told Parliament today.
“There have been serious discrepancies in granting licences to all 25 TV channels and 51 radio channels as a result of the absence of a standard procedure in granting licences, " the Minister said in response to a question raised by SJB MP Gayantha Karunatilleke.
The Minister said even Mr. Karunatilleke had made an effort to introduce a standard procedure in granting licences but he was not successful,” the Minister added.
Also he revealed that a new Electronic Broadcasting Authority Bill will be intruded soon. "A Cabinet subcommittee headed by Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapakshe has been appointed to prepare this legislation,” he said.
Minister Rajapaksha said the government will initiate a dialogue with the media institutions before preparing the final draft.(Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)