Govt. has no necessity to suppress media - Media Minister

Rohan Mathes

COLOMBO: Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa reiterated that the Government has no necessity whatsoever to suppress the media, as it is a fully-fledged democratic Government exercising its jurisdiction within a free and fair framework of governance.

Fielding questions from journalists at the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department yesterday on the recent agitation of mediamen, accusing the Government of unlawful arrests and disappearances and the submission of five independent media unions’ report, Yapa said that he had received the report and was currently pursuing the same.

He said that the government was no respecter of persons, and they would only base their arrests on the acts and not the person, whoever it may be.

They had not and would never ever resort to arbitrary and unlawful arrests of journalists, just on the basis of they being journalists.

As a democratic and responsible government which has all the ingredients of a high civilisation, they have the onus of ensuring the national security of the country.

A fair and proper framework and a process to arrest journalists and others of all walks of life exists. The government has faith in the judiciary.

They are now investigating on the recent disappearances and other sinister matters and will keep the media informed of the outcome soon.

He further said that the country has enjoyed a long tradition of a free and independent electronic and print media.

More new channels are also coming in freely sans restrictions or hindrance. Freedom of the media will be ensured and consolidated further.

He also invited the media for a free dialogue and discussion with him, on matters of mutual interests and problems encountered in their profession. “I am bound to protect the interests of all journalists, he said.

Responding to a question whether the achievements of President Rajapaksa on his recent visit to India would slightly hamper the cordial bi-lateral ties which Sri Lanka enjoys with India, Minister Yapa said that they are having excellent relationships with India, Pakistan and all other SAARC countries and also China.

He opined that he could not see any dampening of relationships with any of those countries.

On a question raised in the delay of re-opening operations in the defunct Pramuka Bank, Minister Yapa said that directives have been made by the President to resume operations as soon as possible but there could be problems in the implementation of the directives given.

Answering a question on the restrictions of security staff for the former Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathy Suriaarachchi, Yapa said that this was a formality which had to be adhered by all. “When one is relieved of his former duties, his security is obviously curtailed”, he added.