Cabinet approval has been granted to amend the Sri Lanka Press Council Act No. 5 of 1973, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today (09) at the post-Cabinet media briefing.
He said the nearly 50-year-old legislation is outdated and does not reflect current social and cultural trends, particularly with the rapid growth of the internet and social media alongside traditional print and radio.
Minister Jayatissa stressed that the amendments are not intended to control the media, but were proposed following requests from the public and media institutions. He further clarified that the revised Press Council Act is different from the Online Safety Act.
Under the amendments, the Press Council will review factually incorrect news articles in consultation with relevant media outlets. If corrections are deemed necessary, they must be published not only in the print version but also on the institution’s social media and online platforms.
