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The Electronic Journalists Association and several print media journalists slammed the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) at a press conference yesterday for threatening journalists.

The JSS has allegedly threatened trade union action on legal actions in a letter to the Rupavahini and Broadcasting Corporations and the editors of the Lake House newspapers, if those institutions don't stop - what the UNP trade union called - the one sided news presentation.Secretary of the Electronic Journalists Association Susil Kindelpitiya condemned the letter as a threat to the professional rights of the journalists. Questioning the purity of the JSS to speak for a free media culture, Kidelpitiya said the Journalists would not allow the JSS to intrude in to their professional rights.

"This is not a threat to any individual, this is a threat to all of us in the journalism profession," he said.

The JSS letter signed by its secretary Sirinal de Mel said it would impose new rules to punish journalists under a future UNP government.

The JSS action was denounced by a number of working journalists as well.

Dinamina deputy editor Stanley Samarasinghe challenged the JSS to prove that the Government owned media institutions are pro-government or one sided.

Claiming that the State media institutions have posed some questions of national interest to the Opposition, Silumina Editor Sujeewa Dissanayake said that its inability to answer them is the reason for the opposition's claim that the State media is pro-government.

Rupavahini News Director Asela Jayanath said the political programs telecast over Rupavahini are more balanced than those in the private channels.

Dinamina Executive Editor Joe Seneviratne said JSS these action is a hindrance to a free and fair election.

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