Best if TRC was under Telecom Minister: Mangala

Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera in Parliament yesterday said that it would have been better if the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) came under the purview of the Ministry of Telecom and Digital Infrastructure Development.

Minister Samaraweera made these remarks in response to a question posed by Joint Opposition Parliamentary Group Leader Dinesh Gunawardana.

“It would have been better if the TRC came under the Minister of Telecom and Digital Infrastructure Development. However, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, too, brought it under his purview by issuing a Gazette notification to that effect,” Samaraweera said.

MP Gunawardana pointed out that it must be identified if President Maithripala Sirisena could control more than the Ministries of Defence, Environment and Mahaweli under the 19th Amendment.

“There were no legal barriers for former President Rajapaksa to hold any ministry as the 19th amendment was not in effect at that time,” Gunawardana said.

Minister Samaraweera then said that it was regrettable that the TNL transmission tower was sealed despite steps taken by the channel to resolve the issue it had with another channel over frequencies.

“The equipment confiscated from TNL is said to be worth Rs. 20 million, and the channel had informed the Courts that these should be stored accordingly as they are delicate. The courts have assured the safety of the equipment,”

He then pointed out that the Opposition had not protested in this manner when the former Government restricted media freedom.

“I am happy to see the members of the Opposition so concerned about media freedom today. Most of them were silent when the media was harassed during the last Government,” he said.