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| Friday, 17 December 2004 |
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from Ali Hassen in Islamabad South Asian Ministers of Information and media on Wednesday agreed to liberalise the visa regime to allow the free movement of media personnel within the region. This move previously proposed to the SAARC Information Ministers meeting by the conference of editors and working journalists was endorsed as a positive approach to further promote people to people contacts within the region which represents the one fifth of the world's population. The fourth conference of the SAARC Ministers of Information and Media was officially inaugurated in Islamabad by the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Mohammadmian Soomro on Wednesday. The Ministers of the seven SAARC countries led their respective delegations at the summit. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Information and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Secretary to the Ministry of Information and Media W.B. Ganegala officiated at the senior official level meeting which drafted the action plan for approval of the Ministers conference. The other members of the Sri Lankan delegates included M. Ali Hassen, Assistant Director of Information and Punchihewa of the SLRC. Samaraweera addressing the inaugural session of the meeting said Sri Lanka had agreed to draw up a conceptual plan by revising the plan of action previously adopted by the first summit in Dhaka in 1998. This action plan envisages the introduction of new procedures to ensure free flow of information within and outside the region. The Minister drawing the attention of the gathering emphasised that SAARC should go into the unique characters, needs and values of the region when preparing this plan of action instead of mere duplicating of western concepts of media freedom. Sri Lanka also offered to have the first SAARC feature film festival on National Channels of Television in Colombo in May 2005. The Government of India offered to provide training facilities in the field of film making at its training institute in Pune and Calcutta. The full text of the Minister's address: "I am so honoured to be amongst you at the Fourth Meeting of SAARC Information Ministers. It is indeed a privilege to represent Sri Lanka at this important conference. I must offer my thanks and appreciation to the Government of Pakistan for hosting this meeting. My thanks also go to the SAARC secretariat for making this conference a reality by having made all the arrangements. It is my pleasure to represent Sri Lankan Government as Minister of Information and Media at this meeting of SAARC Information and Media Ministers. Today, SAARC is a mature regional body, striving to bring about greater regional co-operation in many spheres of activity. As a matter of fact, SAARC has done well in the domain of information and media. Since the first meeting of SAARC Ministers of Information and Media in 1998, we are meeting here in Islamabad for the fourth time. The SAARC Plan of Action in 1998 identified a number of activities to be undertaken by Member States. These activities were designed to ensure a free flow of information both in the electronic and print media. Since approval of the Plan of Action on Media and Information at the Tenth SAARC Summit, member countries had to take concerted efforts for the promotion of practical programs among themselves in the field of information and media. We are here in Islamabad thanks to the hospitality of the Government of Pakistan to take stock of what we have done so far and what remains to be done. For and on behalf of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, let me convey Sri Lanka's firm commitment to achieving the desired goals and objectives of regional co-operation. Significant changes in the 'traditional mass media' of press and broadcasting are currently being signaled. These changes are due most directly to technological advances in the means of electronic distribution and handling of information, but they also reflect more fundamental and longer-term social and economic changes. The term most often used to describe the emerging social order of the more economically developed states is that of an 'information society'. 'Information society' refers to a form of society in which there is a high and increasing dependence on individuals and institutions on information and communication in order to be able to function effectively in almost every sphere of activity. We can witness some salutary changes are taking place in South Asia in its march towards an information society. In Sri Lanka, we have taken several steps to ensure freedom of expression. For instance, as Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Media, I took steps in September 1997 to repeal the 1978 Parliamentary Privileges Special Provision Act, which had given Parliament the right to fine and imprison journalists. In addition, the Criminal Defamation Law has also been repealed. We attach the greatest importance to strengthening the media and providing a framework within which the media can function independently and without inhibition. We do not discriminate against the private radio/television stations and allowed them in the year 1994, the opportunity to broadcast/telecast news which was necessary in the media policy domain. However we are mindful about the fact that the structures on ownership, policy objectives, and necessary legislative instruments, are indispensable for a sound media practice. We take the position that every person is entitled to freedom of speech and expression, including publication, and this right shall include the freedom to hold and express opinions and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art or through any other medium. In 2004, I have introduced a new Code of Ethics for the Sri Lanka Television Corporation. I have also initiated some guidelines on screening of teledramas. It is my sincere intention to make the State media institutions the role models for the privately owned media institutions. The Sri Lanka Television Corporation has consistently scored high ratings. A reputed marketing research outfit in Sri Lanka has reported the popularity and outreach of the television programs emanating from the national television station. I have taken steps to give a fair balance in reporting the news relating to the opposition. A need had arisen for the private media institutions which are in operation in Sri Lanka playing the role of professional communicators to accept and observe this Code of Ethics recognising the rights of media audiences-readers, listeners and viewers on the right to freedom of expression. In order to ensure recognition and respect for other persons' rights, codes of ethics and its compliance on the part of print and electronic media journalists and media institutions is imperative. It is essential that Codes of Ethics be accepted and observed as a necessary self-regulatory discipline. It goes without saying the media that purports to serve the public interest must foster a culture of dialogue. It is a truism to say the observance of a code of ethics by media practitioners is a necessary moral and professional discipline in order to serve the public interest with a sense of commitment. In keeping with the Plan of Action adopted at the World Summit on Information Society held in Geneva in 2003, Sri Lanka has taken several measures. It is the position of Sri Lanka that information and communication technology (ICT) has to be harnessed for human resource development and for alleviating poverty. The Parliament of Sri Lanka enacted the Information and Communication Technology Act No. 27 of 2003. The ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) was established as the successor institution to CINTEC (Council for Information Technology). ICTA is mandated to facilitate the Implementation of National Policy on Information and Communication Technology. ICTA has launched the e-Sri Lanka Programme with a view to achieving several objectives: ensure more effective, citizen-centred, and business-friendly government through the re-engineering Government Program; empowerment of the rural sector, disabled, women and youth through increased and affordable access to information and communication tools; develop leadership and skills in ICT; and employment creation through the ICT industry, ICT-enabled services, and enhanced competitiveness of user industries and services. In conclusion, I wish to emphasise Sri Lanka's commitment to adopt the Resolutions passed by this Fourth Meeting of the Ministers of Information. We shall take all possible measures to implement the Plan of Action at our earliest. I am so overwhelmed by the wonderful arrangements made by the host country along with the SAARC Secretariat to make this event a success. I express my sincere appreciation and thanks to the Government of Pakistan for its exceptional hospitality extended to all of us. I wish you all success in all future endeavors of the SAARC." |
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