Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, says the Secretary of the Ministry of Mass Media will take the necessary actions regarding complaints received against any media violating conditions related to the broadcasting frequency licence.

Addressing the post-Cabinet media briefing today, Minister Jayatissa said legal action can be initiated by any individual who feels that their rights have been violated due to a particular news report.

“If we get a complaint that conditions related to the broadcasting frequency licence have been violated, then the Ministry of Mass Media will initiate a probe. The action to be taken will be based on the incident, and may differ incident to incident,” he added. 

Minister Jayatissa made the remarks in response to a question raised regarding Minister K.D. Lal Kantha’s complaint with the Ministry of Mass Media against Hiru Media Network, alleging that the broadcaster published a false and misleading report regarding his assets declaration.

Responding to the query, Minister Jayatissa further acknowledged that the Media Ministry has also received a complaint about Hiru Media Network from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) as well.

Aside from the complaint lodged with the Ministry of Mass Media, Minister Lal Kantha has submitted a complaint to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) alleging that Hiru Media Network, operated under Asia Broadcasting Corporation (Private) Limited, has violated conditions of its broadcasting frequency licence.

According to the complaint, Hiru Media Network has not only breached the terms of the licence issued by the Ministry of Mass Media but has also seriously violated the conditions attached to the frequency licence granted by the TRCSL. 

Minister Lal Kantha has requested the Commission to conduct a formal investigation into the matter.

The full letter submitted to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission is as follows;

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Minister of Agriculture, Land, Irrigation and Livestock Development K. D. Lal Kantha today participated in the official relaunch of the Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) liquid milk production by the National Livestock Development Board (NLDB), marking a key step in revitalising the state-run dairy sector.

The ceremony was held at the NLDB premises in Narahenpita, where the new 1-litre UHT milk pack was also unveiled.

Speaking at the event, Minister Lal Kantha said the NLDB had served the public for decades but was pushed into near closure due to political decisions taken by previous governments. 

“Institutions that served the people were neglected. The NLDB was allowed to deteriorate. This government has taken a clear decision to revive it and return its services to the people,” he said.

Minister Lal Kantha noted that restarting UHT milk production was not only symbolic but also practical in reducing dependence on imported milk and supporting local dairy farmers.

“This is just one step in a broader effort to make our country self-sufficient in dairy production. We will continue to strengthen the NLDB and other public institutions that directly benefit the people,” he added. (Newswire)

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To address policy decisions related to ensuring food security, the Food Policy and Security Committee, chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lal Kantha, along with Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, convened a meeting for the first time yesterday (Jan 22) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The primary objective of the Food Policy and Security Committee is to take necessary actions to implement the government’s policy of ensuring a safe, secure and sustainable food system for all citizens.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that accurate data and information are essential for making informed policy decisions related to food security. The government highlighted that it is unwilling to take risks by making decisions without reliable data. Consequently, establishing a robust data and information system has been identified as a top priority.

The Minister of Agriculture further highlighted the need to provide rice not only for direct consumption but also as an essential resource for industries such as poultry, egg production and beer manufacturing, all of which contribute to human consumption. He stressed the importance of considering these needs in the implementation of the government’s progressive agricultural policies.

Additionally, the Minister emphasized the necessity of studying the country’s food consumption patterns to foster a healthier population and minimize food waste. He advised committee members to take appropriate steps in this regard.

Several key areas were discussed, including the establishment of a national food security policy framework, the maintenance of an essential food information system, the formulation of new strategies aligned with internationally recognized standards and the development of plans to increase and distribute local production based on scientific evidence. The discussions also addressed food security, food pricing and market management.

The meeting was attended by committee members, including Secretary to the Prime Minister G.P. Saputhanthri, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, and other ministerial secretaries. (PMD)

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