2026-03-03 / Oral Question: Regional Journalists and Media Accreditation (Q.1572/2025) 2026-03-03
## Summary
Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa provided written answers to parliamentary questions regarding the status and welfare of regional journalists in Sri Lanka. He reported that 876 regional journalists hold valid accreditation cards as of 31 December 2025, and acknowledged that payment delays by media institutions have been formally raised with media heads by the Director General of Government Information. The 2026 Budget has allocated Rs. 100 million for journalist skills development and technology access, a significant increase from the Rs. 7 million allocated in 2025, which supported 61 scholarships. He also outlined several professional development and safety initiatives, including provincial awareness programmes on ethical reporting, district-level skills workshops, and the near-finalised establishment of the Sri Lanka Institute of Accredited Media Professionals through pending legislation.
Mr. Speaker, the answers are as follows.
(a)
(i) As at 31.12.2025, 876 regional journalists hold valid media accreditation cards.
(ii) Yes. Regional journalists have reported that some media institutions delay payments for media coverage.
(iii) The Director General of Government Information has formally informed all media heads to ensure prompt payments due to regional journalists.
(iv) To support journalists’ skills development, Rs. 100 million has been allocated in the 2026 Budget for higher education scholarships and technology access (Rs. 50 million each). In 2025, Rs. 7 million was allocated and 61 scholarships were awarded. This year we expect to utilize the full allocation for both skills/technology grants and a higher number of scholarships. We aim to complete these initiatives within this year.
(v) As above, within the current year.
(vi) To enhance professional competence and safety:
- Provincial-level awareness programmes, under the Ministry’s leadership, for public and private media on ethical reporting free of misinformation and hate speech;
- Establishment of the Sri Lanka Institute of Accredited Media Professionals, with a draft bill—this process has been underway for several years and is now at its final stages;
- District-wise skills development workshops conducted by the Department of Government Information (17 workshops held in 2025; 12 more planned this year);
- Issuing media accreditation cards to facilitate work and access; those without may reapply.
(b) Does not arise.