Media organizations should act responsibly so that the economic pressure in the people does not turn into hatred, Minister of Mass Media, Transport and Highways Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said.
Meeting with the heads of electronic and print media organizations at the Ministry of Mass Media today (02), Minister Gunawardena said the media also have a responsibility towards the society just as the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.
“Irrespective of whose government the income of Sri Lanka is 4 billion rupees per day. The cost is 10 billion rupees. Therefore, 600 billion rupees are borrowed every day. The present is very difficult. This is the reality no matter who governs,” the Minister said.
“Therefore, inform the people about the economic situation in the country. Or the pressure in people’s lives will turn into hatred. Through that, violence is created. Likewise, you have the responsibility to use the media so that problems do not arise between Sri Lanka and other countries.”
The Minister said all parties should reach an all-party consensus to pay off the debt and move the country forward.
The Minister said that there is no intention to sell the Lakehouse Institute. As the payment of salaries in the state media organizations is a problem and a management system should be made for it.
He further said that the behavior of the media should not harm the country as well as the politicians who form the governments and politicians of other political parties.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Media, Anusha Palpita, Director General of Government Information, Mohan Samaranayake, Director General of Presidential Media, Dhanushka Ramanayake, and other heads of public and private media organizations joined this event.
