Senior Journalist Sunanda Deshapriya said that the new Government should prove itself as to what extent they would make the State media independent and this would be the litmus test.
He said every politician attempts to use the State media to build his or her image. In fact, there are no particular television channels which support the National People’s Power (NPP). All other parties have the backing of such channels. However, some television channels have given fair coverage to the NPP.
“As to how they allow the State media to act independently would be a litmus test for the new Government. The Free Media Movement and Centre for Policy Alternatives have conducted many programs in this connection. Former Governments and Media Ministers had agreed to implement these programs,” he said.
Deshapriya said the Government will have to take a policy decision to make State media institutions independent. The changes to be made had been made in the reports. Even the former Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga Government attempted to make some changes. The Ranil Wickremesinghe Government also introduced the Right to Information Act. Therefore, we have to admit that former Governments had also made efforts in this regard.
Four committees were appointed by the Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga Government in 1994 regarding the State media. “The R.K.W. Gunasekara report is the best report compiled on State media. The new Government can also review those reports.