President asks media to be truthful and safeguard the country

 President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday asked the country’s media to broadcast true information and render its service for the country with its great power of truth.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new Media Development Center of the Department of Government Information Department built at its premises in Narahenpita on Friday, President Rajapaksa said the local media have a responsibility to stand on justice and safeguard the country from challenges it faces unnecessarily from foreign media that support divisive international forces.

President Rajapaksa also honored ten veteran journalists in recognition of their services in the field of mass media.

Dr. Lester James Peiris, Edwin Ariyadasa, D.F. Kariyakarawana, Elmo Gooneratne, Siri Thilakasiri, Sugathapala Senarath Yapa, Tissa Liyanasuriya, Sriya Ratnakara, Sathchurupavadi Nathan, Furkhan B.Ifthikar and Sri Lal Kodikara received awards from the President.

The Media Development Center built at a cost of Rs. 374 million under the projects of developing the infrastructure facilities of the media will house offices of several units of the Media Department.

The Center has a conference hall with a 370-person capacity to conduct seminars for journalists, a modern auditorium, teleconferencing facilities, an e-library, lecture halls and a museum displaying the media equipment of the old days.

The new state-of-the-art facility is expected to assist journalists to further their skills and training, Director General of Government Information Prof Ariyarathne Athugala said. The government has also taken the initiative to establish a Media School for the members of the media community to advance their academic knowledge in the field of Mass Media.

Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, and Secretary of the Media Ministry W, B. Ganegala also were present at the occasion.