Media should not incite people - Prof Piyadasa

Asela Kuruluwansa

It is the duty of media institutions to refrain from publishing news which tends to incite people or damage national and religious unity and reconciliation.

It is questionable as to whether the media acted responsibly in giving publicity to the recent incident regarding the self-immolation of a Buddhist monk, said Prof Lakshman Piyadasa of the Kelaniya University's Mass Communication Department.

Prof Piyadasa said a media institution should always pay attention to their social responsibility without limiting themselves to mwere reporting of news.

He said there is unity and peace in the country and the situation was not so bad for one to resort to such drastic acts like self-immolation when there was ample room for solving issues through discussion and dialogue.