Govt. media should take lead in creating ethical, qualitative media culture: President

President Maithripala Sirisena says the Government media institutions should take the lead in creating an ethical as well as qualitative media culture in the country.

He made these remarks participating in a ceremony to open the new administrative building complex of the Independent Television Network (ITN), yesterday (14). This event was organised in parallel to the ITN’s 38th anniversary.

The President recalled that when he participated at the presidential election as the common candidate, the State media were used in an unprecedentedly abusive and unethical manner to attack him. No other presidential candidate or national politician faced the allegations that were levelled against him at that time, he said.

Instead of achieving maturity gradually over the years, the State media institutions fell into a most disgraceful level two-and-a-half years ago, the President said. He emphasised that such immoral media usage should not happen again in the future of this country.     

President Sirisena said that at that time, all kinds of allegations were levelled against him because he posed a great threat to the persons calling themselves giants, and he was came from a poor family. He said that he became the President of this country not to crown any member of his family but to fulfil responsibilities towards the people while facing challenges.

The President pointed out that a superior political culture could be built only through better media usage and that all the media institution heads, their management and journalists should commit themselves to fulfil their duties and responsibilities in a free media environment.

The President after opening the newly built five-storey administrative building complex signed the guest book and also opened a museum, which includes artefacts of ITN, South Asia’s first colour television channel.

The President made an inspection tour of the outside broadcast vehicle of the institution and the new building complex. 

The Maha Sangha including Most Ven. Ittapana Dhammalankara Maha Nayake Thera, other religious leaders, Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Gayantha Karunathilaka, Ministry of Finance Secretary R.H.S. Samarathunga, former ITN Chairman Rosmand Senaratne, dignitaries, Acting ITN Chairman Saman Athaudahetti and the staff participated on this occasion.