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by Rodney Martiniesz

A host of legislative enactments are in the pipeline aimed at liberalising the media and providing enhanced media freedom.

Cabinet spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris told the media yesterday that archaic provisions of the penal code which currently bound mediamen to the criminal defamation law would be excised.

Journalists thereafter can have no fear of imprisonment. They will only be subjected to the civil law.

The government also proposes changing the Freedom of Information Act aimed at protecting all sources of information specifically having regard to corruption in state institutions. The Official Secrets Act too would undergo an overhaul making it more condusive to media freedom.

The government also intends amending the Parliament Privileges Act and laws relating contempt of court in so far as it affects the practice of journalism. Mmeanwhile the government has appointed a watchdog committee consisting of members from the Government and Opposition, publishers and mediamen to ensure impartiality by the State Media. 

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