The Opposition will challenge the proposed Electronic Broadcasting Authority Bill before the Supreme Court (SC) as soon as it is tabled in the Parliament, said Opposition Parliamentarian, Prof. G. L. Peiris.

The Bill, which has seen much opposition from several parties including political parties, and civil and media organisations, is to make several changes to the electronic media industry, including the issuance of broadcasting licences.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (19), Prof. Peiris said that the Opposition's determination to prevent the Bill from becoming a law is much greater than the Government's determination to pass it. "The Government has a strong determination to pass this Bill, but we, the Opposition, have a much stronger determination to prevent it from being passed as a law. We will thwart the Government's efforts to pass this at the very beginning. As soon as the Bill is gazetted and tabled in the Parliament, we will take all necessary steps to veto it before it is debated. The appropriate method for that is to go before the SC and challenge this Bill. We will do it, and we will not allow the Government to take even one step forward."

Claiming that massive public unrest can be expected in the near future due to the Government's programmes, he said that the Government is bringing the said Bill in order to prevent the people from rallying against it. "The Government and President Ranil Wickremesinghe have a strong determination to introduce this Bill, which will completely wipe out media freedom in the country. Why this determination? Why is the Government adamant that this must be done no matter what prejudice is faced by the country and what is said locally and internationally? The reason is clear. The current Government is expecting massive public unrest in the near future. Therefore, it (Government) aims to formulate a strong mechanism to suppress public opposition, and this Bill is a crucial part of that mechanism."

According to the Bill which has been proposed, the new licences to television and radio channels will be issued only for a period of one year, with a request having to be made to the Commission that has been proposed to be established through the Bill. In addition, a Commission with the membership of the Mass Media Ministry Secretary, a Director General (DG), and representatives appointed by the President, has been proposed to be established to regulate media institutions under the Bill. Furthermore, a Committee headed by the said Commission's DG is to be appointed to carry out investigations on media institutions, and it is reported that the said Committee is able to initiate an investigation against a certain media institution even without a complaint.