President silent on Mass Com. Ministry takeover
President Chandrika Kumaratunga or her party members have failed to give a clear explanation for reasons leading to the taking over of the Ministry of Mass Communication.

President Kumaratunga during the Friday's address to the nation failed to give any substantial reasoning for the take over of the ministry. The only passing reference to the media, if it was any reference at all, was, "I wish to nudge the memories of my friends of the media and other peace experts who only yesterday were part of the anti peace campaign that burnt and vilified the best proposals for peace ever to be presented by any government of Sri Lanka".

She supported her decision to take over the Defence and Interior portfolios by saying that the deteriorating security situation led to the decision. The President during her address to the nation on Friday gave no explanation about taking over the Mass Communication Ministry.

Earlier in the week President's Foreign Affairs Advisor Lakshman Kadirgamar told reporters that the takeover of the Mass Communication Ministry was coupled with the security situation.

"The Defence portfolio is absolutely vital to the security of the country. Interior also goes with defence to maintain law and order. The media have this particular problem. On occasions if the media are mischievously used, they can exacerbate a security situation. So the media have the link with the other two to that extent." That's the explanation he gave at the PA news conference.

SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena told state TV that it was the media that moulds character and some such thing. High moral ground indeed, but to take over the ministry for this?

Meanwhile, the President has appointed new heads to the state media institutions and they have begun to implement changes in the respective organizations, including the dress code of the newsreaders on state TV.

Back to Top

Back to Front Page

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.