14. Section 117 of the principal enactment is hereby amended as follows:
| (1) in subsection (1) of that section, by the substitution, for the words " Director-General of Broadcasting ", of the words " Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation"; |
|
| (2) by the repeal of subsections (2) and (3) of that section and the substitution of the following subsections therefor :
| | " (2) In the allocation of broadcasting time during the period referred to in subsection (1) to any candidate who makes an application in that behalf, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation shall ensure that each such candidate shall be permitted, without payment, to use
| | | (a) in the case of radio broadcasting, a total period not exceeding ninety minutes which may be used on one occasion and not more than three occasions, the use on each such occasion being for not less than fifteen minutes and not more than thirty minutes. |
| (b) in the case of television broadcasting, a total period not exceeding ninety minutes, which may be used on one occasion or not more than three occasions, the use on each such occasion being for not less than fifteen minutes and not more than thirty minutes. |
|
| | (3) Where two or more candidates agree to debate any matter of national importance over the radio or television, it shall be the duty of the Chairman ox the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation or the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation to afford facilities for that purpose, on payment made therefor. The period allocated to any candidate for that purpose on. radio or television shall not exceed forty-five minutes, which shall be in addition to the period allocated to the use of such candidate under subsection (2). '; | | |
|
|
| (3) in paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of that section, by the substitution for the words " Director-General of Broadcasting " of the words " Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation "; and |
|
| (4) by the addition at the end of that section, of the following new subsections:
| | '' (6) The Commissioner may permit every candidate to use, without payment and in addition to the periods allocated to such candidate under subsections (2) and (3), broadcasting facilities on radio and television for such equal periods as may be determined by the Commissioner having regard to the principals set out in subsection (2). | | |
| | (7) The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka "Rupavahini Corporation shall ensure, that except as provided in the preceding provision of this section, no material is broadcast over the radio or the television, during the period commencing on the day of nomination and ending on the date of declaration of the result, which will have the effect of promoting, directly or indirectly, the candidature of any candidate at the election. The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation shall act in consultation with the Commissioner in implementing the provision of this subsection.". | | |
|
|
|
Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts