Insurance, Housing and Justice: Government Announces Support for Journalists
Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Mass Media, Kaushalya Ariyaratne, has pledged that justice will be delivered to all journalists who were abducted or killed across the country, stressing that the government will pursue accountability without discrimination between the North, East, and South.
Speaking to journalists in Vavuniya after attending an event on Saturday (August 2), the Deputy Minister said those connected to the abduction and killing of journalists would face punishment “in one way or another.”
She acknowledged the challenges faced by regional journalists while carrying out their reporting duties and said the government is committed to addressing their concerns.
Among the measures under consideration are improved remuneration for journalists through discussions with state-owned media institutions, while urging private media organizations to ensure fair payments to media personnel.
The Deputy Minister also announced plans to introduce a comprehensive insurance scheme for journalists. A Cabinet paper on the proposal is expected to be submitted soon, with the intention of making the scheme a permanent initiative rather than a one-year programme.
She further said the government is considering requests from journalists for scholarship opportunities and loan schemes, while also planning to extend housing programmes to journalists when implementing housing projects for artists.
Referring to the government’s broader housing policy, Ariyaratne noted that the administration aims to provide homes for all homeless citizens by 2029, adding that journalists would also benefit from the initiative.
Addressing long-standing cases involving abducted, disappeared, and murdered journalists, she said many investigations have remained unresolved for more than two decades. The government is now working to expedite these cases and deliver justice.
She explained that a proposal to extend the tenure of judges has been made to help clear the backlog of pending cases. However, she acknowledged that investigations into attacks on journalists remain challenging due to the lack of evidence, making it necessary to gather fresh information before legal action can proceed.
Despite these difficulties, Ariyaratne maintained that individuals linked to crimes against journalists are also connected to other criminal offences and would ultimately be held accountable.
“Not only in the North but also in the South, many journalists have been abducted and killed. Therefore, we will ensure justice for all journalists without any distinction between the North, East, or South,” she said.
She added that the government would continue engaging with media organizations to identify and resolve the issues faced by journalists across the country.
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