Zuhair on credit facilities to Presidential candidates' ads

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), Chairman M.M. Zuhair, in a statement yesterday said sections of the print media are attempting to create an issue relating to the grant of credit facilities to Presidential candidates in the rup-up to the polls.

Zuhair's statement: "The grant of one month's credit to credit worthy parties is an approved practice in the SLRC.

The Constitution of this country, the Presidential Elections Act and the guidelines issued by the Commissioner of Elections require that all electronic and print media should provide a fair coverage to ensure a free and fair election.

This requirement to ensure a fair coverage does not exclude paid commercials, which too must be taken into consideration in assessing whether an equitable coverage was given.

The SLRC considered the request for credit in the background of an appalling situation that was emerging with one political party continuing to advertise nearly three times over and above the value of advertising of the other party, which had requested credit.

The question that arose was how can the coverage of the election campaign be considered fair or equitable, when there is a substantial imbalance in the time and quantum of the commercials which form part of the campaign?

Is not the question of a fair and equitable coverage of the campaign inclusive of the commercials, a fundamental obligation in order to ensure the greater fairness of the electoral process?

The Board of the Corporation, having considered all these factors and also the requests of the UPFA as well as the UNP for credit facilities, took the view that this imbalance in the advertising budgets will impinge on the conduct of a fair poll.

Accordingly, the Board decided, after recording its reasons, that in order to ensure a fair election, granting of credit facilities with a view to correcting this imbalance, to those having credit worthiness, would ensure the conduct of a free and fair election and will not violate the guidelines which are subject to the provisions of the Constitution and the Presidential Elections Act.

In this connection, Section 117 (7) of the Presidential Elections Act an amended provides that the SLRC Chairman can act in consultation with the Commissioner of Elections, in implementing these provisions.

Accordingly, the Chairman personally consulted the Commissioner of Elections and the SLRC had taken steps in furtherance of these consultations. The SLRC thereafter by letter dated 10 November addressed to the Commissioner of Elections has confirmed the content of these consultations. The SLRC wishes to categorically state that all actions in this regard have been taken bona fide in order that the coverage of the polls campaign is as fair as it is practically possible to be ensured.

The SLRC however regrets that those sections of the media which carried reports on this matter did not extend the courtesy of obtaining the comments of the Chairman before publishing those reports."