The Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa, has reiterated that television broadcast licenses issued by the Ministry of Mass Media are conditional and may be revoked if the stipulated requirements are not adhered to.
The Minister made these remarks while addressing an event held today (December 29) at the Health Promotion Bureau, organized to recognize media personnel who have made notable contributions to promoting public health awareness and disseminating accurate health information among the public.
Speaking at the event, Minister Jayatissa stressed that all television channel licenses in Sri Lanka are issued on a temporary basis and are subject to strict compliance with conditions imposed at the time of issuance.
“This is not a game. When you work in this field, you are dealing with public trust, national frequencies, and immense responsibility,” the Minister said. “News reporting cannot be careless or harmful to the public. We are not prepared to treat this matter lightly.”
He further emphasized that it is the responsibility of all media personnel to ensure the accuracy of the news they report.
“Television has a far wider reach today. What often happens is that newspaper headlines and articles are read out to viewers through TV news segments,” he explained. “Initially, this practice was limited to simply presenting headlines. However, we now see that some presenters have begun adding their own personal opinions and interpretations to these news items.”
Minister Jayatissa warned that such behavior can seriously mislead the audience and undermine public understanding, especially on sensitive matters such as public health.
He added that media professionals frequently handle critical data, statistics, and factual information, particularly in relation to health, the national economy, and national security, and therefore must exercise extreme caution.
“When incorrect numbers, figures, or misleading commentary are presented, the consequences can be severe,” the Minister stated. “If news is broadcast in a manner that harms public health, the Minister has the authority to revoke the relevant license. Before that, we will issue formal notices requesting corrections, and compliance is mandatory.”
Minister Jayatissa concluded by stressing that maintaining public trust in health-related information is essential for national progress.
“If public trust in the health sector is eroded, nothing meaningful can be achieved afterward,” he said. (Newswire)