Govt. has not tried to suppress media - Chief Govt. Whip

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Chief Government Whip, Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle yesterday told Parliament the Government has not tried to suppress the media.

The Minister was responding to a statement made by the Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera that the Government has given instructions to some newspapers not to publish facts highlighted by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in his speech made in Parliament on February 21 regarding the MIG deal and the transfer of Bribery and Corruption Commission Director Piyasena Ranasinghe.

Minister Fernandopulle said newspapers have carried the Opposition Leader's speech. The English newspaper belonging to Wickremesinghe's uncle has also carried his speech.

Therefore, it is completely false that the Government forced some newspapers not to publish the Opposition Leader's speech.

Joseph Michael Perera said if the speeches made by the Opposition are not published in newspapers, the people will not be able to witness the work done by the Opposition.

The Opposition Leader said at present there is a lot of pressure to curb media institutions.

Even the Lankadeepa was afraid to publish certain parts of my speech. However, the Daily Mirror had carried it.

Wickremesinghe said the licences of some media institutions have been cancelled while various threats have been made against some journalists.

When the electricity charges are increased this year, the costs for the print media will also be doubled. In addition, expenses for the electronic media will go up.

International media institutions have declared Sri Lanka as a country which has recorded the highest rate of suppression against the media, the Opposition Leader said.

Minister Fernandopulle said the Government has not taken a decision to increase electricity charges.