Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa revealed that there is an alleged conspiracy afoot by the government to silence the media. He made these statements in Parliament today (07). “There is an attempt to suppress a leading media network in the country,” he said while noting that top individuals in government have been conspiring against the said network with groups of lawyers. "Media is the fourth pillar which is established to ensure that democracy in the country is protected whilst bearing in mind that all members of the house are responsible in protecting the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution," Premadasa said. He said that the media outlet is a news provider that highlights the issues of all segments in Sri Lanka in an unbiased manner ensuring the people’s right to information. “Why is the government so afraid of the media that exposes them?” he asked. He assured that this was not a lie and he stated with responsibility that top positions in government are exchanging views on shutting down the media outlet and preventing the truth from being revealed to the people. “The government must assure that no harm will fall upon the particular media outlet,” said the Opposition Leader while adding that hundreds of thousands of people will stand by it. Commenting on the matter further, Attorney-at-Law Suren Fernando tweeted the court ruling of the famous Amaratunga v Sirimal (Jana Ghosha case) where court explained that speech or dissent against the government is recognised by the constitution and therefore, it must be permitted. "The right to support or to criticise Governments and political parties, policies and programmes, is fundamental to the democratic way of life, and the freedom of speech and expression is one which cannot be denied without violating those fundamental principles of liberty and justice which lie at the base of all civil and political institutions. Stifling the peaceful expression of legitimate dissent today can only result, inexorably, in the catastrophic explosion of violence some other day." Fernando tweeted.