FMM asks Govt. to ensure accountability in proposed reforms to state media

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

The Free Media Movement (FMM) yesterday asked the government to ensure accountability in implementing proposed reforms to the three state media institutions and disclose it to the public if there are any.
Issuing a press release, the FMM said during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to China among the bilateral agreements signed was one pertaining to Sri Lanka’s state media, of which the government had failed to issue any details despite several requests by the local media fraternity.
The full statement undersigned by Secretary FMM Hana Ibrahim and Convener Lasantha de Silva is as follows; It has been reported that the government is proposing a restructuring plan for the three state-owned media institutions Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, and Independent Television Network due to their financial losses, under a unified management structure.
While it is necessary to make these institutions financially sustainable, the FMM emphasises that if there is a specific plan for this restructuring, it is the government’s responsibility to disclose it. This is particularly important in a context where democratic citizens, including the media community, have consistently called for state media to be transformed into public service media, breaking away from their historical role as government propaganda tools.
Additionally, there are concerns about the use of limited public resources, such as broadcast frequencies, by state media. Notably, one of the agreements signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his official visit to China reportedly pertains to state media. However, despite requests from media organisations, details of this agreement have not yet been disclosed. In this context, it is not surprising that suspicions have arisen regarding the connection between the new restructuring plan and this undisclosed agreement.
Given these concerns, the FMM urges the government to immediately disclose the details of the agreements signed with China concerning state media and, if a restructuring plan exists, to present it for public discussion. The government should seek input from media professionals and the public before implementing any reforms, as this would create a more favourable environment for independent journalism, it stated.