State media have responsibility to safeguard truth and credibility - Dilan

Deputy Minister of Information and Media and Convenor and President of the Deputy Ministers Forum Dilan Perera referring to a statement made by Shan Wijetunge during Swarnavahini's 'Kinihira' program on Tuesday said he would vehemently condemn direct or indirect attacks made on the State media which are always performing their responsibility of safeguarding truth and credibility.

Deputy Minister Perera in a communique issued yesterday said during this program Mr. Wijetunge created the impression that the SMS opinion survey started by his channel as a private media had been copied by Rupavahini and described it as a childish and lowly act.

However, Wijetunge did not mention anything about other private media stations conducting SMS opinion surveys.

Therefore this could be implied as an indirect allegation made against state media. Mr. Wijetunge should understand that he has got an opportunity to work in a private electronic media while serving a private print media institution due to a policy decision taken by the PA and its leader President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to open up the electronic media to the private sector as well.

Thereafter, a large number of experienced media personnel in state media institutions left to take up appointments in the private media.

Thereafter programs parallel and similar to those in state media were broadcast in private media too but no one has called them duplicate programs.

The question however is not regarding copying or imitation. The so-called independent private media have started various programs to gauge public opinion. But most producers and conductors of these programs have ended up their independent media roles by obtaining organiser posts in the political parties of their masters to whom they showed their political affiliations.

Therefore, suspicion is created about the impartiality and balanced nature of these programs. It is most surprising to see Mr. Wijetunge raising unnecessary issues knowing fully well the confidence viewers have placed in the state media.

Deputy Minister Perera said both he personally and the Government vehemently condemned baseless allegations and direct or indirect attacks made against the state media.

As a matter of policy the President, SLFP and the government has always safeguarded the people's desire for a free and independent media.

Otherwise the President and the Government would not have granted permission to set up private electronic media institutions along with the freedom to criticise and attack the Government.

Deputy Minister Perera making an open invitation to viewers said instead of questioning the paternity or the guardianship of an SMS or any other program they should question its political partiality and the credibility.

Rupavahini and the state media have a direct responsibility. That is to safeguard the truth and credibility at all times. The President, Prime Minister and the government will jointly safeguard that responsibility.