Hon.  Keheliya Rambukwella assumed duties today (13) as the Honorable Minister to the Ministry of Mass Media. The newly elected Minister Rambukwella took oath at the Temple of Tooth yesterday (12) before his Excellency the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha and the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha. 

After taking office, Hon. Minister addressed the media at a press briefing held at the ministerial auditorium. Thereby he stressed that the newly assigned ministerial position is not a piece of jewel, but social responsibility and he intends to carry it out amicably with media as he once did during his tenure at the same ministry. 

The newly elected minister also emphasized that what he expects is not the curtailing of media but the competitiveness between the private and state media in the years to come.  Moreover, he added that monetary assistance would be provided for the higher education of the journalists with a view to producing a generation of veteran media personalities and they would be further encouraged by providing loan concessions for the purchase of media equipment. 

The Hon. State Minister of Postal Services and Professional Development of Media, Sathasivam Viyalendran was also present at the press briefing. In response to a matter raised by a journalist, he said that he would go into the discussions with the Hon. Minister with regards to the housing and land issues of the journalists.  

Additional Secretary to the Ministry Mr. S.R.W.M.R.P. Sathkumara, Director General of Government Information Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, and other institutional heads of the ministry were also present at the press briefing.