By Kshama
Ranawana -
State
media in Sri Lanka received a scathing reprimand by Maithripala Sirisena,
during his acceptance speech, soon after he was sworn in as President.
Never
before, he said, had state media gone to the extent it did, as in this
election, adding that state media has abandoned every vestige of professional
decency.
Indeed
his rebuke was most telling. State media was in overdrive the last several
weeks, looking for cheap theatrics to attack Sirisena and his coalition of
opposition parties.
Since the
take over of the Lake House group during Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s government,
and state control of media was introduced, successive governments have utilized
the media to promote themselves.
However, it was under the Rajapaksa regime that the media, including
many private sector groups fell to its worst depths. Shamelessly! Many so-called editors both in print and
electronic media behaved more like attack dogs.
The new
regime promises change. President Sirisena campaigned on a platform for change,
and promises in his manifesto, “I will create the background necessary for
providing a balanced service to the country by immediately stopping the State
media being used as a propaganda weapon of the ruling party. I will consolidate
to the maximum mass media freedom and the right of information.”
Rajith
Senaratne is on record promising to implement the changes and reform media
behavior.
But here
is the catch. If this regime goes on to make political appointments to staff
any media outlets, their plans of reform will fly through the door.
If the
media is to be truly free, state control must be replaced with a regulatory
committee that would oversee appointments and content. Appointments to
executive positions, such as Chairmen and Directors General should be through a
parliamentary select committee. Key positions must be held by professionals who
are capable of withstanding political interference and bringing balanced
information to the public, not by those who are rewarded for supporting a
political party or for being “close to” any politician. Will this new regime be
willing to forgo its hold of the Lake House group, and turn it into a crown
corporation or privatize it.?
None of
the private broadcasters have the ability to reach all Sri Lankans in the
manner State control media has. Therefore, a large section of the country hears
and reads only what the government wants it to know. As has been observed
during this past election, members of the opposing coalition were denied time
to air their views on national channels. That is a flagrant violation of the
rules governing the media during an election. Believing in the immortality of
the regime, government minions went on to distort facts and sling mud at
opponents. That was not curtailed to the election alone. Shaming and labeling
individuals has been practiced by previous governments too, but it was the
Mahinda Rajapksa’s regime that took that dastardly behavior to its lowest
depths resulting in security issues and even murder of those who fell out of
the governments favour.
Had
social media not played its part, many Sri Lankans would have been in the dark
even about the oppositions’ manifesto. Yet, the reach of social media in Sri
Lanka is limited. Voting patterns in this past election is clear. Where
internet is freely available, for the most part, voters supported President
Sirisena.
Our
expectations of this new ruler is high. Let’s hope his promise of media freedom
and by extension the restoration of democracy will be upheld with appointments
of professionals and not derailed by political opportunists.
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