• Party Gen. Secy. says party will support mechanism to prevent misuse of media freedom for political agendas

“It is the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party that has suffered the most due to the wild-ass freedom enjoyed by the media, and we will therefore support the introduction of a mechanism to prevent media freedom from being misused for political agendas,” said SLPP General Secretary and Government Parliamentarian attorney Sagara Kariyawasam.

While commenting on the proposed Electronic Broadcasting Authority Bill to The Daily Morning, he said that the SLPP would always stand for media freedom, but that the media should also not be given the “freedom of the wild ass”. “We, as a party, always stand for all forms of freedoms including media freedom, and we will not support any move to suppress it. In the meantime, however, we must say that we will not stand for wild-ass freedom for the media either. If the Government is to do something positive to prevent media freedom from being misused, we will support it to the fullest extent possible.”

He also said that it is the SLPP that has suffered the most due to what he claimed was the “wild-ass freedom” enjoyed by the media in the country. “There is no other party that has suffered due to the wild-ass freedom of the media as much as the SLPP has. All media institutions labelled former President and Prime Minister and incumbent Government MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister and incumbent SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa as thieves. They have now been released from the relevant lawsuits, but the damage caused to them through the media is irreparable,” he said.

Speaking further, Kariyawasam said that any media institution that makes an allegation against any individual should do so on the basis of sufficient evidence. “This Bill has not yet been presented to the Parliament and we are yet to study this Bill. However, we are of the view that even the media should not be given wild-ass freedom. They cannot be allowed to criticise individuals, particularly politicians, based on political agendas. Media freedom, as well as others’ freedom, should be ensured.”

Claiming that the death of media freedom and all other fundamental rights of the people is assured if the proposed Electronic Broadcasting Authority Bill is passed in the Parliament, Opposition MP Prof. G.L. Peiris recently said that they, together with all Opposition political parties, media institutions, and civil organisations, would take all possible political and legal measures to prevent the passage of the same. The Bill has also seen opposition from several other parties including civil and media organisations.