The Bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka was presented to Parliament on 22 July by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka with the objective of introducing and maintaining professional standards for media practitioners, while providing a legal framework for matters connected thereto.
Presenting the Bill, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the move marks a significant milestone for journalists and media professionals in Sri Lanka. He noted that the institute would serve as an official professional body established through an Act of Parliament to regulate, promote, and uphold the standards, quality, and ethics of the media profession.
The Minister explained that the proposed institute is based on a concept similar to chartered professional bodies in fields such as engineering, accountancy, and law, recognising journalism as a specialised profession with a high level of social responsibility and public trust.
The proposed institute is expected to:
- Introduce and enforce national and international professional standards and a code of ethics for media professionals.
- Confer the title of Chartered Media Professional on journalists who meet the required academic qualifications and professional experience.
- Promote continuous professional development through training, research, and capacity-building programmes.
- Safeguard media freedom and protect the rights of media professionals by supporting an independent and impartial media environment free from political and commercial influence.
- Provide expert advice to the Government on national media policy, media law reforms, and institutional modernisation.
The establishment of the institute is expected to strengthen accountability, professionalism, and ethical standards within Sri Lanka’s media sector while contributing to the development of a more credible and responsible media culture.
