New election reporting guidelines for media

Electronic and print media reporting on future elections would have to abide by fresh guidelines introduced under the 19th Amendment that will be Gazetted within three months, Cabinet has decided. The Cabinet approved guidelines are aimed at creating a conducive environment to hold free and fair elections, Cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Seneratne told reporters denying that the Government was attempting to censor media. 

Criteria or guidelines imposed by the Elections Commission as per sub paragraph 104 (b) (5) (a) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, as amended by the 19th Amendment for compliance by electronic or printed media to ensure a free and fair election, have to be published by a gazette and submitted to parliament for approval. 

Under the Cabinet approval the gazette issued on 25 February 2016 will not be presented in parliament.  

The Cabinet spokesman also stressed that a monitoring authority for electronic media will only move forward with industry stakeholders on board as it was an effort to regularise media and not a step to promote censorship.