The draft bill to establish the Sri Lanka Chartered Media Professionals’ Institute was presented in Parliament today (22) by Minister of Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa.  

According to the Ministry of Mass Media, the proposed legislation is described as a historic step to strengthen professionalism, standardization, and ethical responsibility in the country’s media sector. It seeks to create a formal mechanism to introduce, maintain, and develop professional standards for media practitioners.

The ministry states that the media profession plays a vital role in a democratic society by providing accurate information to the public and shaping opinion. Strengthening knowledge, professional skills, responsibilities, and ethical standards of journalists has therefore become a timely necessity.

The Institute is expected to support professional development, expand training opportunities, encourage knowledge and experience sharing, and foster a media culture aligned with international standards.

The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to elevating the status of media professionals and ensuring that Sri Lanka’s media industry operates with recognized standards and accountability. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted to publish the Burial and Cremation Rights Draft Bill in the Government Gazette notification and to submit it to the Parliament for approval.

According to the government, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted to the draft bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman to award the right to an individual to decide whether that person’s body should be disposed of by burial or cremation after his death.

In cases where such will was not declared by the dead person, the right to decide whether the body of the dead person should be buried or cremated is to be entrusted to the deceased individual’s closest relative considering the deceased individual’s preferences, and religious, cultural or personal beliefs. 

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to publish the accordingly formulated draft bill in the government gazette notification and to submit it to the Parliament for approval. (Newswire) 

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Cabinet approval has been granted for the Draft bill on Gender Socialization Equality to be published in the government gazette notification for Parliament approval. 

According to the government, approval of the Cabinet was received at their meeting held in September 2022 for the preparation of the draft bill on Gender Socialization Equality. 

Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the draft bill on Gender Socialization Equality that has been prepared.

The Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the President, in his office as the Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, to publish the draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently to table the same for the approval of the Parliament. (NewsWire)

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The Interim Secretariat for Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism recently presented a copy of the draft Truth and Reconciliation Bill to the Chief Prelates of the Asgiri and Malwathu chapters. 

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), Dr. Asanga Gunawansa, the Director General of the Interim Secretariat, led the delegation.

Most Venerable Thibbatuwe Sri Sumangala Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatu chapter and Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratana Thera of the Asgiri Chapter agreed to review the draft bill jointly and provide their comments and observations concerning the same.

The Maha Nayakas were briefed on the progress of the reconciliation process by the officials.

Venerable Mahawela Ratanapala Thera from the Malwatu Vihara and Venerable Dr. Muruddeniye Dharmaratne Thera from the Asgiri Vihara also attended the event. 

Additionally, Dr. C Y Thangarajah, Head of policy, along with Public Relations Executive Danushi De Silva, Senior Legal Executives Yasmada Lokunarangoda and Dulan Dasanayake, and Coordinator S. D. Kotalawala were present at this event. (NewsWire)

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