President stands with all media

• SLFP defends media organisations, says will protect media freedom

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Secretary General Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa yesterday defended media organisations and said President Maithripala Sirisena supported all media to carry out their professional duties. 

Prof. Piyadasa, referring to a recent statement made by Prime Minister and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament, using the term “black media”, said that the SLFP did not believe in labelling media organisations and remained dedicated to creating an environment for them to report freely. 

“Media cannot be divided in this way. Soon there will be blue media and red media and green media. The media must be allowed to operate freely and according to the guidelines and ethics of their profession. The industry should not be told they would have to pay massive damages or face court cases for reporting. Such statements, especially from powerful people, limit their work space,” he said. 

Prof. Piyadasa also stated that President Maithripala Sirisena would stand with all media organisations and protect their right to report independently. The SLFP Secretary General also criticised the proposal to hold a parliamentary debate on media and their reporting of events that transpired after 26 October.