He said the only time they would need to seek permission will be in the event of issuing of an official Press release.

Media Ministry secretary Karunaratne Paranavithana said the only prohibition that will be in force will be notices from the state sector praising President Maithripala Sirisena in the media.

Paranavithana and Karunatilleke made the remarks during a conference held today (January 23) by the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association and the Web Journalists Association whose president and secretary respectively posed questions.

Also discussed by journalists were the Freedom of the Press and the Right to Information Act.

Media activists also suggested that it would be in the best interest of the public if the Indian model with regard to obtaining information was adopted.

Minister Karunatilleke also assured the journalists that he would set up a Committee to study all proposals put forward to come up with a formula that is best suited for the Media in the country.

He said the Committee will be named next week.

Present at the conference were the convener Free Media Movement Committee Saman Wagarachchi, Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association president Mandana Ismail, Web Journalists Association secretary Kelum Shivantha and members of the Free Media Movement Deepthi Palihakkara and Nimalsiri Edirisinghe.