Broadcasters Guild warns against exclusion from new commission talks

The Broadcasters Guild of Sri Lanka has hit back at the government over a new concept paper for an Independent Media Commission, claiming the proposals were developed without any consultation with the industry.

In a letter addressed to state officials, President of the Guild, Asanga Jayasooriya, and Secretary, Laksiri Wickremage, warned that failing to include broadcasters at this early stage could lead to a framework that ignores the unique technical and economic realities of electronic media.

While the government has suggested public consultations will take place once legislative drafting begins, the Guild is demanding immediate inclusion in the process to ensure the independence and sustainability of the nation's broadcasting sector.

They have proposed a dedicated stakeholder forum to address critical issues such as content regulation, licensing, and independence safeguards before any laws are drafted.

The letter read;

"The document is a Preliminary Concept Paper prepared by a committee under the Sri Lanka Press Council (ශ්‍රී ලං ා පු වත්පත් මණ්ඩලය ) to propose the establishment of an Independent Media Commission. It is the output of that expert committee (appointed October 2025), serving as foundational guidance for drafting legislation and further steps.

"This concept paper thoughtfully proposes a comprehensive framework covering various media types, including radio, television, print, and internet-based platforms. It suggests evolving or adapting the existing Press Council (primarily focused on print under the 1973 Act) into a broader body to support content oversight, ethical standards, complaint resolution, potential registration processes, and overall media sector growth.

"We are disappointed to observe that this important document—with significant implications for the radio and television broadcasting sector—appears to have been developed with no consultation with SLBG.

"We kindly draw attention to the fact that, while the concept paper mentions future public consultations during the legislative drafting phase, earlier involvement of key sectoral representatives such as SLBG could help ensure the recommendations fully reflect the unique aspects of electronic broadcasting. We regret to note that the concept paper seems to have been prepared in the apparent absence of consultation with SLBG, potentially limiting the consideration of broadcasting’s distinct operational, technical, economic, and content-related perspectives.

"In the spirit of continued collaboration, we would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly consider the following:

1. We hope for direct and meaningful inclusion of SLBG representatives (along with other electronic media stakeholders) in any ongoing or future discussions on this proposed Independent
Media Commission.

2. We respectfully suggest that the concept paper’s recommendations could benefit from a genuine consultative process involving SLBG prior to proceeding to legislative drafting.

3. We would be most grateful for the opportunity to participate in a dedicated dialogue or stakeholder forum with SLBG and other relevant industry bodies, to share insights on broadcasting-specific matters such as content regulation in broadcast platforms, independence safeguards, licensing considerations, and sustainable development."