The Government has gazetted the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka Bill, seeking to establish a professional body aimed at introducing and maintaining standards for media professionals in the country.
According to the Gazette Extraordinary issued on June 5, 2026, the proposed legislation provides for the creation of the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka as a corporate body with powers to regulate membership, conduct training programmes, hold examinations, and promote professional standards within the media sector.
The Bill states that the Institute’s objectives include enrolling qualified media professionals, enhancing skills and training, conducting research, maintaining professional discipline through a code of conduct, and promoting collaboration with local and international media institutions.
The proposed Institute will be managed by a Governing Council consisting of elected and appointed members drawn from the media profession. Until such a council is established, an Interim Council appointed by the Minister will oversee the formation of the Institute.
The Bill defines media professionals to include journalists, editors, publishers, broadcasters, anchors, presenters, media owners, media managers, media educators, researchers, technicians, content creators and camerapersons.
The legislation has been ordered to be published by the Minister of Health and Mass Media and will require parliamentary approval before becoming law. (Newswire)
