Wednesday Dec 31, 2025
Wednesday Dec 31, 2025
Wednesday, 31 December 2025 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva
Media Minister
Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa
THE main Opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday criticised the recent comments by Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa that broadcasting licences can be revoked if media houses publish news detrimental to public health.
Taking to X, Dr. de Silva said: “Is Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa threatening that their NPP Government which came to office promising to repeal the draconian Online Safety Act will now use the same draconian law to revoke the broadcasting licences of those TV channels who do not agree with them on what the ‘truth’ is? Or will they use the irrelevant Rupavahini Act or ask TRCSL to cancel their frequencies?”
He added: “We have seen how media institutions were threatened in the past, licenses yanked and in the extreme case, journalists killed and other times television stations fire bombed. Who can forget the attack and complete destruction of Sirasa studios in Depanama days before the brutal assassination of Lasantha, and so much more, which this is not the platform to list. I am not at all saying this threat is in any way similar, but there are ways to deal with media re the accuracy of their reportage instead of threatening them with license revocation. Surely, this government could not have turned 180 degrees in just one year? Or have they?”
