The ministry provides its full cooperation to Media Secretaries to convey the development massages in their respective ministries to the people Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath said .
Addressing a professional development workshop for Media Secretaries to Ministers and Deputy Ministers at the Centre for Media Development Auditorium of the Government Information Department yesterday, he said the media secretaries should understand the importance and weight of their complex role.
He observed in the post war scenario a large number of development activities are being implemented throughout the country, and ministries contribute to them with policy interventions, providing of facilities and programme initiations.
He said the Media Secretaries should have a sound knowledge on the development framework followed by the government, adding that the government peruses a policy of social democracy. He said the government intervenes as a social welfare provider and development facilitator in addition to its role of formulating the foreign and defence policies of the country. He said the Media Secretaries should cultivate their skill to convert events and data in the ministry to news.
Government Information Department Director General Prof Ariyarathna Athugala, Presidential Spokesman and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Chairman Mohan Samaranayake and Economic Development Ministry Development and Communication Unit Director General Prof Sunanda Maddumabandara conducted special lectures on “Modern Mass Communication Approaches”, “News Analysis” and “the Role of Media Secretaries in National Development” respectively during the workshop. Government Media Officers Association Secretary Harsha Abeykoon also spoke. ANCL Director Editorial Seelarathna Senerath and Independent Television Network Chairman Rosmand Senarathna also participated.