Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa
2026-03-03
Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa acknowledged the difficult working conditions and inadequate, irregular payments faced by regional journalists, who travel extensively and work in challenging environments to serve the public. He noted the irony that journalists who report on labour rights violations experience similar issues themselves. He stated that the matter had been raised with the Labour Minister and would continue to receive attention, while also calling on media institutions to pay their regional correspondents fairly and promptly, recognising that these institutions rely heavily on their regional networks.
We all recognize the significant service of regional journalists, who provide information to the public often at personal cost, travelling long distances and working in adverse weather. I accept that their payments are inadequate and irregular. Ironically, they report on others’ labour rights while their own are curtailed. I have discussed this with the Labour Minister as well. We will remain seized of it. I also appeal to media institutions to pay their regional correspondents properly and on time, because these institutions largely function thanks to their regional networks.