Sufficient time was given to obtain the media identity. In the future, we will take steps to provide scholarships, insurance and other benefits to journalists. The only method of identifying you is the media identity card issued by the Department of Information. We will act accordingly. Minister of Mass Media and Health Nalin de Jayatissa emphasized that there will be no suppression of the media in any way.

You use the national identity card issued by the government, you use the passport issued by the government. We are working to provide a media identity card to everyone. Please get one of these. These decisions should have been taken earlier. The Minister revealed that during the investigation of a person who came with a media identity card through a certain media organization, media identity cards had been issued to someone involved in crimes for many years.

Minister Nalinda Jayatissa made this disclosure while responding to a question raised by a journalist at the press conference held yesterday (29) afternoon at the Government Information Department to inform the cabinet decisions.

Question

Previous governments suppressed the media. The National People’s Power government has also been accused of indirectly suppressing the media because newspapers and websites are submitted to the Ministry of Media for registration and renewal, and as soon as they are submitted, the Ministry of Media sends them to the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Defense does not give its approval and continues to delay. 

Newspapers and websites do not get a chance to register. You issue an order that only journalists with media identity cards can participate in the cabinet media discussion. The government is indirectly suppressing the media and showing the country that it is protecting media freedom. Is this the double standard that is being followed?

The Minister further commented:

As a government that talks about underworld activities, we give value to that media identity. We give the necessary respect. We will work in the future to protect the professionalism of journalists. We request you to adhere to that. 

Journalist – Government press departments also issue media identity cards to government intelligence agencies.

Lanka Sky News Journalist – Today I was also checked to see if I have a government press ID card. They know that I will be participating in this discussion, so they ask me again do I have a government ID card.

As we know, journalists in other countries of the world use the media ID card of the institution they work for. That is the only valid ID card. Especially in European countries, governments do not issue media ID cards.

The government press department issued media identity cards during the war. Before the war, we worked outside showing the ID card issued by our institution. I use an identity card issued by the Sri Lanka Professional Journalists Association and the International Journalists Association for my professional works.