Media integral part of peace building

COLOMBO: The President stresses importance to respect for the right of the public to know the truth and respect media freedom. This is underlined in his urge to meet regularly editors of the media and establish a close rapport with them to help find a peaceful solution to the ethnic problem so that there could be everlasting peace in this island, said Presidential Advisor A. H. M. Azwer.

He was delivering the keynote address, deputising for Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, at the 11th Annual Convention of the Muslim Media Forum at the Nagaradhoya Centre, Borella. President N. M. Ameen presided.

Azwer welcomed the efforts of the Forum to embrace media personnel belonging to all races and communities in forging ahead in their objectives to build unity and amity among them, cutting across narrow communal feelings.

Referring to a media statement made by Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, MP, calling upon the President to divorce both the JVP and the JHU and marry the UNP, Azwer wondered whether it is a ploy to bury the good intentions of the President to reach a political concensus amongst all political parties to avoid a war situation. "Such statements should come from the leadership of the UNP and it should be genuine and sincere; a show of puppetry should not be staged in such pleas.

Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana, also spoke, Colombo Mayor Mohamed Uvais Imthiyaz, was given a warm welcome on his arrival.

Several veteran journalists were honoured at this convention.