“We are committed to create a conducive environment that will protect media freedom and ensure good working conditions for all journalists who are expected to be act in independently while protecting our cultural and religious values.”“Mass communications and media are essential drivers of the country’s future. The President, Prime Minister and the Government accepted in principle the need for media freedom towards a just and healthy society. As envisaged in the President’s election manifesto, the Government will create a suitable climate for journalists to engage in reporting independently.”

The Minister said: “However, as politicians and ordinary citizens, we cannot be satisfied about the partial conduct of the state media during the last five years. State media were used to sling mud and insult and ridicule the political opponents creating a negative political culture in the society for the past five years. Specially , it was used to sling mud and insults at the current Prime Minister and war heroes who contributed to achieve peace for the country and we regret that.”

“Although we conducted weekly press conferences to revel the important information to the country when we were in the Opposition, none of the state media institutions participated. However, President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa received a landslide victory due to the support of private media without any support from the state media.”

“But, under our new media culture, we will create the necessary climate for the state media to act freely. Although during the last five years, the state media did not give support for the opposition, we will create an environment where Opposition views will also given prominence in the future,” he added.

“We want to create a more balanced and impartial media culture which does not engage in mudslinging and character assassination. There will be no intimidation of journalists and they will have the freedom to express their sentiments.

The seven intuitions under the purview of the Media Ministry will be turned into organizations that will provide a maximum service to the ordinary people. In 2015, the previous government after it came into power, removed all media heads in state media by force, but even after just eight days, we have not removed a single person although some have left on their own,” he added.