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State TV not giving them air time: Monks
The Jathika Hela Urumaya has charged that state TV is preventing the party from getting its message across to the people. It blames the ITN of not accepting Hela Urumaya advertisements and also accuses the Rupavahini Corporation of discontinuing the telecast of their advertisements, after having telecast them very briefly.

The party also alleges that the State media is on a mud slinging campaign against the Buddhist clergy. Mr. Thilak Karunarathne said no opportunity had been provided to the JHU to respond to charges levelled against the members of the clergy contesting under the JHU.

Rupavahini Corporation Chairman, Harim Peiris denied there was a deliberate withholding of advertisements of the JHU but conceded that there was an initial delay in telecasting them due to the use of the Buddhist flag in the JHU Television campaign.

He said this matter had been referred to the Elections Commissioner who ordered the removal of the Buddhist flag from these advertisements. However the JHU accused the Rupavahini Corporation saying that although the party had changed their advertisements as advised by the Elections Commissioner there continued to be some delay in telecasting the JHU advertisements.

This allegation too has been refuted by Mr. Peiris who said that it was just 'a question about allocating prime television time to all political parties'.

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