Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne - Deputy Minister of Mass Media

## Summary Deputy Minister Ariyarathne defended the government's economic management record while presenting a Regulation under the Foreign Exchange Act to relax capital outflow limits, raising business outward payment limits from USD 200,000 to USD 500,000 and personal foreign currency account limits from USD 20,000 to USD 25,000, reflecting improved foreign reserves of approximately USD 6.8 billion by end-2025 under the IMF programme. She cited January 2026 export and remittance data as evidence of economic recovery, while acknowledging risks from the Middle East conflict to oil prices, remittances, tea exports, and tourism. On cyclone relief, she confirmed LKR 25,000 payments had been largely completed for affected families, with further LKR 50,000 tranches in progress. She also outlined a LKR 47.6 billion fuel infrastructure investment, including LKR 31.9 billion for tank refurbishment and new construction to double storage capacity, and clarified that the President's "pawn shop" remarks referred to the inherited state of the economy rather than current policy.

Deputy Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathne made a brief procedural motion requesting that Hon. (Prof.) Sena Nanayakkara assume the Chair in the Committee stage of proceedings.

## Summary Deputy Minister Ariyarathne responded to earlier criticism regarding procedural delays at the Women's Commission, dismissing opposition claims as politically motivated and contrasting the government's record of bringing 20 women into Parliament through grassroots politics with what she characterised as the SJB's family-based political structure. She then introduced four Gazettes relating to economic, international relations, and tourism matters for parliamentary approval, citing IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva's recent statements praising Sri Lanka's macroeconomic recovery — including inflation falling from 70% to 2.3% and GDP growth reaching 5.4% in Q3 — as rebuttal to opposition claims of economic mismanagement. The Deputy Minister also outlined a series of recent diplomatic engagements, including the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting on GSP+, an economic cooperation agreement with Japan, a visit by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, and the President's attendance at an AI summit in India, presenting these as evidence of restored international relations.

Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne outlined several initiatives under the government's "A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life" policy framework aimed at developing Sri Lanka's media industry. She announced that a **Chartered Institute of Media Professionals Bill** has been drafted and is currently being finalised at the Legal Draftsman's Department, with gazetting expected soon; the institute would serve to protect journalists' rights and professional standards. She further indicated that journalist scholarships would continue in the current year, and that the government is exploring a **health insurance scheme** for media professionals—particularly regional journalists lacking social protection—to be funded through member contributions supplemented by a government contribution, with introduction anticipated within the year.

Deputy Minister Ariyarathne acknowledged widespread complaints from journalists regarding exploitative pay-per-piece arrangements in private media, including the absence of EPF/ETF contributions and inadequate remuneration. She noted that the Ministry's regulatory authority is limited, as private media companies fall under the Companies Act and labour law. However, she stated that on 7 January 2026, the Director General of Government Information wrote formally to all private media institutions requesting that they ensure proper payment practices in recognition of journalists' professional standing.

Deputy Minister Ariyarathne responded on behalf of the Minister of Health and Mass Media to a parliamentary question regarding state media institutions. The response identified four state media bodies — Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Independent Television Network, and Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. — and confirmed that salaries for institutional cadre staff with media identity cards are paid according to Management Services Circular procedures, while freelance and provincial correspondents are remunerated in accordance with approvals from their respective Boards. The Deputy Minister reported that no irregularities have been identified, with supporting details provided in a tabled annex.

Deputy Minister of Mass Media Hon. (Dr.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne made a procedural motion proposing that Hon. Upul Kithsiri assume the Chair of the parliamentary session.