No offensive commercials

Asela Kuruluwansa and Sanjaya Mathurata

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sought the intervention of the Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to put a halt to Commercials aired over the electronic media that can have a damaging effect on the minds of children.

This followed representations made to the President by a group of parents who met him at the President's House in Kandy yesterday.

The President also observed that electronic media alone cannot be accused of airing commercials that are socially unacceptable. The various advertising agencies who pay money to get these commercials aired too are equally guilty.

The President also referred to a suicide bid by two students of a leading girls school in the country and said he would build a disciplined and value based society that would leave no room for such incidents in the future.