Govt. to appoint expert committee on issuing broadcasting and telecasting licenses

The government is to appoint an expert committee for the issuance of broadcasting and telecasting licenses, the Cabinet office said.

Licenses are currently being issued for private broadcasting stations in terms of the provisions of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Act. No.37 of 1966 and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Act No.06 of 1982 for maintaining broadcasting and telecasting licences.

As per the Cabinet Office, 27 private broadcasting licenses and 54 private television licenses have been issued as of now, whereas only 18 broadcasting licenses and 28 telecasting licenses are in operation by now.

A previously appointed committee to study the processes applicable for issuing licenses had pointed out the need for an institution for both broadcasting and telecasting.

The committee had also forwarded a draft bill under the caption ‘Broadcasting Regulatory Commission.’

According to the Cabinet Office, the new committee would be tasked to further review the bill and explore the possibilities of amending provisions of Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRCSL) to issue broadcasting and telecasting licenses through the proposed Broadcasting Regulatory Commission.