SJB condemns President’s statement regarding media freedom

By Asiri Fernando

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday condemned a recent controversial statement by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding the freedom of the press. 

Addressing a press conference at the Opposition Leader’s office, SJB Parliamentarian Mayantha Dissanayake condemned the President’s comments, and called on the public to be vigilant about the oppression of the media. Dissanayake was joined by fellow Opposition MP S.M. Marikkar. 

“We saw the President’s statement regarding the media yesterday. We urge the public to be vigilant about who such comments were directed to. Today, journalists are at risk. We vehemently condemn the President’s comments,” MP Dissanayake said, adding that a statement by a senior Police officer who spoke on camera while a large painting calling for the end of ecocide was removed at Viharamahadevi Park raises serious questions regarding the impartiality of the Police Service. 

“Something like this has not happened before. A senior Police officer stated that this was their Government and indicated that it was their Government that initiated the removal of posters. How can a public official make a statement like that, in support of a political group? How can we expect law enforcement to be impartial, when senior officers make statements such as this?” MP Marikkar questioned. 

Marikkar cautioned regarding the comments of the President and the Police officer, pointing out that such a statement needs to be taken seriously in context of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, charging that such statements indicate a degree of impunity and warned that in the absence of adequate checks and balances, centralised power is a danger to the freedoms of all citizens. 

MP Marikkar argued that if any party has been wrongfully portrayed by segments of the media, there are provisions in the law to file legal action against them. 

“You can’t progress as a country through threats and intimidation. As a democracy, we need to preserve the rights that have been afforded to the public and the press,” Marikkar stressed.