The Ministry of Mass Media has granted television channel licenses subject to certain conditions. Minister of Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, emphasized that these conditions must be strictly followed, warning that violations at any time could result in action.
Today (29), the Health Promotion Bureau organized the Health Communicators Appreciation Ceremony – 2025 to recognize journalists who have contributed to promoting health knowledge and disseminating health information to the public. The event was held under the patronage of Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, who also serves as Minister of Health and Mass Media.
Addressing the audience, the Minister highlighted that the broadcasting licenses issued to each television channel are temporary.
“This is not a game. You must work with the trust of the people, respecting the frequencies available to you. While reporting news, you can cover meaningful events, like Sadiris Gurunnassa bringing the Naadagam box from Ambalangoda to Colombo, but you cannot report in ways that mislead the public. These responsibilities are not to be taken lightly. All television channels in our country have received licenses from the Ministry of Mass Media, and these licenses are temporary,” Dr. Jayatissa said.
He further explained that licenses are issued with specific conditions, and the Minister has the authority to revoke them if a channel broadcasts content harmful to public health, national security, or the economy.
“If anyone spreads distorted news about public health, our current approach is to send a letter requesting corrections. This is essential. The conditions of the license must be enforced; without them, a country cannot progress. If public trust in health is destroyed, nothing else can compensate for that,” he added.
