Gazette Notification Issued on Draft Bill to Establish Institute for Chartered Media Professionals
09-Jun-2026.
A new draft Bill has been officially published in the Government Gazette with the objective of establishing an institution titled the “Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka”, aimed at elevating the professional standards of journalists and media personnel in the country to international levels, while also formulating and recognising a formal code of ethics.
In accordance with the directive of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, the Bill has been published as a supplementary document to Part II of the Gazette dated 5 June 2026.
Under the proposed legislation, a broad range of media sector professionals—including writers, journalists, editors, publishers, media managers, media researchers, and photojournalists—are collectively defined as “media professionals”.
The proposed institute is intended to maintain an official registry of qualified journalists through formal membership enrolment, provide education and practical training in line with emerging global media trends, conduct examinations for chartered qualifications, and establish a media resource centre to promote a high standard of media culture.
A separate professional code of conduct will also be introduced to uphold ethical standards. An ethics committee will be empowered to investigate professional misconduct and impose disciplinary measures, including suspension or removal from membership.
Administrative and managerial functions of the institute will be entrusted to a governing council comprising 15 elected and appointed qualified members. Until its formal establishment, an interim council—consisting of the Secretary to the Ministry and six media experts with at least 20 years of experience—will oversee initial administrative and regulatory functions for a period of one year.
The institution will operate a dedicated fund, and prior approval from the Ministry of Finance will be mandatory for foreign funding. Its accounts will be audited annually by the Auditor General and submitted to Parliament. It will also be classified as a scheduled institution under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, ensuring strict transparency.
