I am media’s favourite punching bag: Ranil

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe

PM says media attacks on him 

incontrovertible proof of newfound media freedom, calls for more responsible reporting

By Madushka Balasuriya

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe evoked Voltaire last evening as he defended the extent of media freedom in the country, while at the same time poking fun at some of the negative press coverage that has followed him since taking office three years ago.

“We have all stood up for the principle of media freedom, and that is best seen in Sri Lanka by the fact that the most abused person in Sri Lanka – directly or indirectly – is me,” stated the Prime Minister. “I have to say, like the old French saying, I defend to my last drop of blood your right to abuse me.”

Wickremesinghe was addressing an event marking the 20th anniversary of the Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility, a landmark achievement in terms of establishing an independent media in Sri Lanka. Introduced in 1998, it was a precursor to the establishment of the Sri Lanka Press Institute, Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lanka College of Journalism, while it also laid the groundwork for the 2002 abolishment of laws related to criminal defamation.

However, the Prime Minister, making note of the many lives of journalists that have been lost in the struggle for media freedom over the years, was at pains to point out that since 2015 – a milestone in terms of media freedom in the country – media organisations have at times overstretched their bounds in terms of fair and balanced coverage.

“When we look back, there are many of you here who walked the length with us, who fought to establish media freedom. Amongst them are those who are not with us, who sacrificed their lives. Lasantha Wickrematunge, Prageeth Eknaligoda, a group of journalists from the Udayan newspaper. 

When I am asked about the inquiries, what I tell people is, ‘one of the police officers who was inquiring told me, so how can we inquire when the media is abusing us and making us the villains?’”

“We all fought on the basis that facts are sacred, comment is free. But we have a media which says now that comments are sacred and facts are free. This is from someone who has fought and who has proved that he is committed to upholding the freedom of the media,” he added.

In light of this, the Prime Minister noted that the Government would look into training more journalists so as to attain a better standard of journalism in the country going forward.

“The training of journalists is certainly an issue we can go into and see what type of help and assistance can be given – though I wonder if I’ll be accused of training people to abuse me, when in fact I should be training them to praise me.”

Wickremesinghe also addressed points of contention brought up earlier in the session, most pertinently in terms of the country’s ambiguous Contempt of Court laws. As it stands, it is not clear if a journalist can be held in contempt if they refuse to divulge the name of a source to Court. The Premier assured it would be looked into, but noted that both Parliament and the Judiciary would have to work together.

“We need legislation on the Contempt of Court issue but you have to remember there is another stakeholder, the Judiciary. The Parliament and the Judiciary will have to work together to bring in laws on the Contempt of Court. I don’t think it’s impossible. The oversight committee and the Judiciary could certainly go into it, but it requires extensive consultations also with the Judiciary in regard to the matter of Contempt of Court.”

SLPI calls for drop in newsprint tax

The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) yesterday called on the Government to lower its tariffs on newsprint, voicing concerns that it was leading to a depletion to credible voices in the media.

“Newsprint which is imported has escalated in price and coupled with the depreciating rupee, has impacted heavily on the industry,” said SLPI Chairman Kumar Nadesan, addressing the gathering at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility in Colombo yesterday.

“We would request that the taxes by way of CESS and Ports Authority levy, together with VAT, be reconsidered so that we may continue to provide the public with affordable and credible news, as against other news platforms which may not be altogether true or valued.”

As per the latest Government tax revisions, Ports and Airport levy on newsprint has increased to 7.5%, VAT to 15%, CESS to 5%, and NBT to 2%. Speaking in the company of both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, Nadesan also drew a humorous comparison to US President Donald Trump.

“On a lighter note, I might add that even Trump has removed all tariffs from Canadian newsprint, presumably for the benefit of the public.” (MB)