Refrain from publishing provocative news - Minister

Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa urged the media to refrain from publishing provocative news items and to be cautious on reporting issues with regard to the peace initiatives.

Minister made this comment when he met the editors and senior journalists of the Tamil print and electronic media at the Media Ministry yesterday.

The representatives of the Tamil print and electronic media brought to the notice of the Minister over the problems such as detention and interrogation faced by the Tamil media personnel in recent days.

During the discussion Minister said that if there was any abuse or excesses of power on the part of the police or the security forces he would not hesitate to take action against those responsible.

Minister further added that the Government was very much keen to see that the peace prevailed free from all evils.

It was with this intention that the Security Forces and the Police carried out routine search operations in the country and not with the intention of harassing any particular section of the community.

Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, Police spokesman SSP Reinzie Perera and SSP Dayananada Bandara and Director of Government Information Anusha Palpita were also present at the meeting.

The suggestion was also tabled at the meeting to send the specimens of the media accreditation card issued by the Director of Information to Police and the Security Forces enabling them to easily recognise the media personnel.

The Military spokesman also suggested that all media should nominate their journalists who cover the defence related issues in order to maintain good rapport in releasing news items.