Media
bashing?
The Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) and Task Force
for Relief (TAFOR) called a media briefing on Thursday to discuss
the progress the two organisations had made with regard to tsunami
rehabilitation and reconstruction. When a journalist queried what
the biggest challenge had been for those in government in the past
three months, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama thought it was a
"misinformed media." After highlighting all the achievements
of the government during this period Mr. Amunugama went onto accuse
the media of paying too much attentions to small issues such as
tents been too warm or being blown away and not saying enough on
the Government achievements. It was more a media bashing than a
media briefing.
Better
show next time
More on the media and this time a political talk show
on a state run "independent" network had invited Media
Minister Mangala Samaraweera and JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa to discuss
the UPFA's progress in its one year in office. The show was more
of a home and home match with each person confirming what the other
said and blaming all their shortcomings on the UNP. Let's hope that
by the time they celebrate their second anniversary, it will not
be the same excuses and they will have something more positive to
say.
Who
is correct?
When Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike was asked at
a press briefing in Anuradhapura on April 2 about an impeding referendum
on constitutional reforms, he said it has been decided to hold one.
When the Media Minister was asked the same question on a television
show last Thursday, he said there was no such decision and called
it a "blatant lie." Which of the two is correct will have
to be seen in the months to come.
Not
illicit
President Chandrika Kumaratunga was presented by Deputy
Samurdhi Minister Jagath Pushpakumara, a memento made of ebony when
she participated at the opening of a housing scheme in Sevenagala.
Before taking possession of the memento, she wanted to make sure
it was legal and said she hoped it was not made of illegally felled
timber. Not so, confirmed a rather embarrassed Mr. Pushpakumara.
Billion
dollar question
Security circles are abuzz with the new acquisition made
by a top man - 60 acres of prime coconut land each acre costing
over Rs. 300,000. The news broke out after the holder of the adjoining
plot, a flying type, discovered who the new neighbour was.
The
billion dollar question is how he raised the funds for such a massive
acquisition. Not when he depended on his salary and some paddy lands
before.
Problems
and problems
The defence services held their sports meet. The major
sports event for those in the nation's security forces began with
the release of three white pigeons. One dropped dead to the ground.
The
other two fell down unable to fly. Those involved in the march past
that followed had a problem keeping strictly to a row. When it came
to the pigeons on the ground, they had to part ways and fall in
line thereafter.
Fair
clarification
And three months on, there is still confusion on how many
people perished in the December 26 tsunami. TAFOR says the number
of persons dead and presumed dead is 38,800. TAFOR says it is going
by the statistics of the Police Department, The Police website has
a figure of 20,936. Asked to clarify the differing figures, TAFREN
Chairman Mano Tittawela said at a press briefing the Task Force
for Relief would be asked to issue a statement confirming the higher
figure and disregard the other. It is fair to ask that the Police
website statistics be disregarded given the fact that the last statistics
it has on crime trends in the country is as at May 2004. So the
tsunami figures too may be outdated. |
