Hands off my TV, please!
The Minister of Mass Media and Information, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, in Gazette Extraordinary dated 10th October, reveals the overarching magic that is the Private Television Broadcasting Station Regulations of 2007. Section 13(e), lists outs the conditions under which the license given to a TV broadcasting company can be cancelled. Namely, they are the broadcasting of programmes that are, detrimental to the interests of national security; inciting breakdown of public order; inciting ethnic, religious or cultural hatred; in violation of any laws of the country; morally offensive or indecent; detrimental to the rights and privileges of children; in violation of the code of ethics, standards and practices of Television Broadcasting. Whilst 4 and 6 I can understand, everything all else falls into areas and issues already used by the State to curb the freedom of expression and stifle independent media. All these points are open to arbitrary interpretation by the Minister and we know through bitter experience how the Rajapakse regime…
Continue reading »
