The government has published a draft bill to establish the “Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka”, aimed at introducing and maintaining higher professional standards for individuals engaged in the country’s media sector.

According to the draft bill published via the Gazette on June 05, the proposed law seeks to establish the institution as an incorporated body.

The proposed institute will be vested with powers to regulate membership in the media profession, conduct training programmes, hold examinations, and promote professional standards within the industry.

Among the key objectives outlined in the bill are the recruitment of qualified media professionals, enhancement of their skills and training, conducting research related to the media industry, maintaining professional discipline through a dedicated code of ethics, and promoting cooperation with local and international media institutions.

Administrative affairs of the proposed institution are to be managed by a Governing Council comprising elected and appointed members from the media sector. Until a permanent governing body is established, an Interim Council, appointed by the subject minister, will oversee the institution’s initial operations.

The draft bill also introduces a broad definition of “media professionals”, covering a wide range of roles in the industry.

Accordingly, the category includes journalists, editors, publishers, broadcasters, news anchors and presenters, media owners, media managers, media educators, researchers, technical personnel, content creators, content editors, camera operators, and photographers, among others.