Prof. Atugala further said "A Journalist is considered as a special citizen of the world among 'world citizens'.  Accordingly the term provincial cannot be applied to you because you have the capability of even addressing national level issues with the help of modern technology. Today, most of the newspapers select  provincial news items for the main headline. However, you have been bestowed with a great responsibility and you should have experience and intelligencea in exercising your responsibilities".
 
"Western media has taught us  only about 'freedom' and not of 'responsibility'. But that is not the truth. You should think deeply about it. Today an opinion has been built to the effect that a journalist should behave as a prophet. This has happened because the journalist has now become the only person who could create a healthy society with a healthy mind.  Journalists need to recognize their own fallibility and the limitations of their knowledge. They should be conscious of false omniscience and avoid just “writing around it.” For this a journalist should be disciplined.

Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs W.D.J. Seneviratne,  Ratnapura District Secretary Sunil Kannangara,, Director Media Wasanthapriya Ramanayake, and Consultant Director of the Special Media Unit Harindranath Chandrasiri also addressed the journalists. More than 150 journalists in the Ratnapura District participated in the event.  (KH)