Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-01-09

Granting Relief Measures to Media Persons who were subject to various harassments and oppressions during the period from 2005 - 2015

- By the publication of press notifications, opportunities were afforded to the media persons who were subject to various harassments and oppressions during the period from 2005 - 2015 to submit their appeals, with a view to granting relief to them. A Cabinet Sub-Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of the Ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs to make recommendations to the Cabinet, with regard to such appeals. Subsequently, the period of time for appeals was then extended up to 01st May 2017 and in response to which 14 more applications have been received. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, to appoint a fresh Cabinet Sub-Committee comprising of the following Ministers to examine the appeals and make recommendations, was approved by the Cabinet.

* Hon. Mangala Samaraweera,
Minister of Finance and Mass Media - (Chairman);

* Hon. Anura Priyadharshana Yapa,
Minister of Disaster Management; and

* Hon. Gayantha Karunathilaka,
Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms.