Professionalism in public relations with setting of PR Council's Sri Lanka chapter

The Sri Lanka Government is dealing with a delicate balancing act between China and India, according to Mano Ganeshan, Minister of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages.

Speaking at the launch of the Public Relations Council International (PRCI) Sri Lanka Chapter on Sunday in Colombo, he said that discussions are now on with Indian officials to hand over Trincomalee oil tanks combined with Japanese investment assistance. PRCI is an organisation started in India and now aiming to go global.

Mr. Ganeshan also referred to media reports that top Indian officials have arrived in Colombo to discuss with the Sri Lankan Government and express Indian concern over Sri Lanka agreeing to give China the Hambantota Harbour.

He said that the Sri Lankan Government is dealing with these projects as it has to repay large amount of debts which were obtained to develop the country and also the government has to attend to the tradition projects on health, education, public transport, water and electricity.

He said that Sinhalese and Tamils have now started to co-exist in a country with three languages, four religions and as much as 19 ethnic groups.

Though the war is over, he explained that the root causes are yet to be eliminated and said that with the proposed new Constitution there would be real time peace which would not permit any platform for armed struggles and separatist movements.

He said under the agreement signed with China on the Hambantota Harbour, no foreign power can have naval presence without the express permission of the Sri Lankan Government and no piece of land can be owned. Sri Lanka's only engagement with China in this harbour is economic and commercial, he added.

The Sri Lankan location has now become important as there is an important sea lane just south of Sri Lanka. International business and other activities that had eluded Sri Lanka owing to the conflict have now surfaced and thus the location has become important to Asia and South Asia and in turn important to China and India as well, he said. "When Sri Lanka is important to everyone, our neighbours are also important to us," he indicated. Thus he said that they would not do anything against the interests of India.

B.N. Kumar, PRCI National President and PRCI Executive Director, said that they have undertaken a series of measures to promote professional programmes which included unique social communications exercises and talent promotion with their own bit of contribution towards skilling and a better India.

He said that these programmes would also be introduced to Sri Lanka. He indicated that as mass communication professionals they at PRCI think that it is their responsibility to spread the knowledge and experience that they gain over the years of their service and hence they have on-going initiatives such as Young Communicators' Club, Guest Faculty Pool, Finishing Classes, Research Assistance; Knowledge Forums; Certification Courses; Media Awards and Reference Books.

They have a close rapport with media organisations and though they are not part of the organisation, the media participates in programmes like press groups and knowledge programmes for journalists.