Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that television broadcasting licences issued by the Ministry of Mass Media are subject to strict conditions and can be revoked if those conditions are violated.

The minister made these remarks while addressing the Health Call 2025 – Health Communicators Appreciation Ceremony, organised by the Health Promotion Bureau to recognise journalists who have contributed to promoting public health awareness and disseminating health-related information. The event was held today (29) at the Health Promotion Bureau under the patronage of the Health and Mass Media Minister.

Speaking at the event, Jayatissa emphasised that all television broadcasting licences issued in Sri Lanka are temporary in nature and conditional.

“This is not a game. Media institutions operate on public trust and utilise public resources such as frequencies. News reporting cannot be treated as entertainment or a joke. We are not prepared to treat this lightly,” he said.

He noted that all television channels operate under licences granted by the Ministry of Mass Media, and that these licences are issued subject to several conditions. Among them are provisions related to national security, the national economy, and public health.

“If news that is harmful to public health is broadcast, the Mass Media Minister has the authority to revoke the relevant licence. At present, when distorted or misleading information related to public health is aired, we issue letters requesting corrections. However, the conditions attached to these licences will be strictly enforced,” the minister said.

Jayatissa stressed that the country cannot move forward without enforcing these regulatory conditions, warning that a breakdown in public trust in health-related information would have serious consequences.

“If public confidence in health information collapses, it becomes impossible to move forward as a society,” he added.