2026-03-03 / Oral Question: Regional Journalists and Media Accreditation (Q.1572/2025) 2026-03-03
## Summary
Hon. Lal Premanath submitted a written parliamentary question (No. 1572/2025) to the Minister of Health and Mass Media regarding the welfare and professional conditions of regional journalists in Sri Lanka. The question seeks data on the total number of active regional journalists and raises concerns about challenges they face, including inadequate and delayed payments, job insecurity, safety risks, and lack of training and welfare schemes. The member specifically requests details on government steps taken or planned to address these issues, and calls for the expeditious implementation of a low-interest loan scheme, structured training programmes, and an active insurance scheme for regional journalists, along with expected timeframes and measures to ensure their professional competence and safety.
asked the Minister of Health and Mass Media (Q. No. 1572/2025) —
(a) Will he inform this House:
(i) the total number of active regional journalists and reporters in Sri Lanka;
(ii) whether he is aware that regional journalists face substantial professional challenges, such as insufficient payments, delayed payments, lack of job security, safety risks and unavailability of training programmes and welfare schemes;
(iii) the steps that have been taken or to be taken by the Government to resolve the problems concerned, separately;
(iv) whether steps will be taken to expeditiously implement a low-interest loan scheme, proper training programmes and an active insurance scheme for regional journalists;
(v) if so, the expected time frames for the same; and
(vi) the measures that have been taken to ensure professional competence and safety of regional journalists?
(b) If not, why?