“Politicians can’t dictate to media on what to write and what not to write”: Lakshman Abeywardena

Text and pix by P.D. De Silva 

“Politicians can’t dictate to the media on what should be written and what shouldn’t be written. A journalist is free to write whatever he wants but within the limitations of self imposed media ethics,” said Minister of State for Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena addressing students of Radawela junior school who attended a media workshop conducted by the ‘Journalists in Matara’ last Monday. 

The media workshop was one of a series of ceremonies held to commemorate the first death anniversary of fellow journalist Pasan Ramawickrama who championed the formation of the ‘Journalists in Matara’. Over 100 senior students attended the half day program.

“The media is very powerful and can make or break administrations. It is because of the media that some of the most powerful people in the world in their time had to resign from public office. It is the media that brings to light the corruption and misdeeds of officials which would never have come to light! The Embilipitiya incident is one of the most recent examples.”

“There have been many controversial news reports published even about me and those who wrote most of them are here today! I did not take offence with these journalists because they were at liberty to publish their views and I had the right of reply which straightened out things. A journalist is treated with respect and even feared at times.”

“A journalist is the best judge on what should or should not be written and should be able to figure out how the society will react to it when published and minimise the ill effects,” the State Minister added.