He said bank officials have been instructed to issue documents to obtain loans up to Rs 250,000 for a motorcycle. The minister instructed media personnel to obtain these documents before February 15.

He made these observations at the Cabinet briefing held at the Information Department auditorium yesterday.

Minister Karunathilake said banks have agreed to grant this loan at an interest rate of nine percent of which seven percent is paid by the government. He said journalists will have to pay two percent of the interest.

A journalist would have to pay less than Rs. 4,000 monthly, the minister said.