A greater enthusiasm in relation to the field of communication could be seen among the present youth due to the rapid growth within the field of communication in the 21st century. The field of communication has shown a novel tendency after the decade of 80s and it has gradually grown into print media, radio and television as well as into newscasting websites. Flow of information generated at the four corners of the world has been quickened due to expansion in the field of Media. The development in communication technology has shortened the range of time and space and the news reaches the reader instantly. When considering this tendency, Media gains the greater advantage of the rapid growth of technology. With the use of communication technology, the newspapers have reached a competitive level through creative management and information management enabling the newspapers to attribute an interest for information within the readers and familiarizing them with information.
As a result of the rapid development in the field of Media, the responsibility of providing the public with information by reducing the range of time and space devolves on Media. It is the reason for Media to become the fourth government in a democratic country. It is essential in good governance, that Procedural Democracy such as conducting democratic elections; conforming in to the Parliament system as well as Associational Democracy to be implemented. It is vital for a democratic country to proceed with both these features and media persons play a huge role in strengthening Associational Democracy; and it is a role to be played in future as well. Procedural Democracy and Associational Democracy is connected by the knowledge socialized by media persons. Therefore, the media person should bear an extra responsibility and accountability.
French philosopher Pierre Bourdieu has once said that “Media is not the symbol of sound but the symbol of silence” It means that the role of media person is to socialize one great study by avoiding the creation of a cluster of multi-sounds. Therefore, the media person is capable of producing a consensus in Media and he should possess the strength to do it.
The present government has directed the country in to an accelerated development after defeating terrorism and certain responsibility devolves on media persons in the success of this endeavour. Dissemination of accurate information is included in the role of the development journalist and the negligence of this responsibility may lead to the limitation of information and problems in relation to accuracy of information. According to Amathya Sen, the Nobel Prize winning economist, the foundation of poverty is the minimal access to information, decrease in the flow of information and the weakness in organizing of information. Likewise, the limitation of information will minimize the capability of researching and making accurate decisions. However, accurate information, investigation as well as making accurate decisions are vital in the development process. Therefore, I request to combine characteristic responsibility of Media as well as the competency and the skill of media persons to broaden the minimum capacity in development.
Mr. Charitha Herath, Secretary, Ministry of Mass Media and Information said that the Ministry of Mass Media and Information acts as a mediator and a partner in this process while providing a variety of facilities under Mahinda Chinthana. He further added that facilitating in the utilization of the common space in communication and regulation is required and it is essential that a group of strong media persons be created and the rights of the general public be secured. The Secretary expressed these views at the awarding of certificates for the journalists who have successfully completed the course on journalism and communication study conducted by the Sri Lanka Press Council. President’s Counsel Mr. W. Dayarathna, Chairman, Sri Lanka Press Council, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, Commissioner, Sri Lanka Press Council Mr. Karunadasa Sooriyarachchi, Chief Editor/ Silumina, Mr. Ariyananda Dombagahawatte, Chief Editor/ Lankadeepa and the Board of Directors, Mrs. K.W.T. N. Amarathunga, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mass Media and Information along with senior officials of the Ministry and a number of senior journalists attended this event.