With reference to a story which appeared in the ‘Odds and Ends’ feature of The Sunday Times of August 10, 2008 (page 3) Government Information Director Anusha Pelpita, has sent the following response.
The Sunday Times says several foreign journalists covering the SAARC summit were disappointed with the media pack. You claimed that “the media pack did not contain any information about either the country or the history of SAARC or any reference material relating to the Summit”.
I wish to state in this regard that not a single foreign journalist has so far made any such complaint to us regarding the media packs given them. There were over 300 foreign journalists covering the event, in addition to over 400 journalists from Sri Lanka. It is surprising that no one brought these alleged “deficiencies” to our notice, although there were enough personnel at hand at the events and at the two media centres set up for the Summit. In fact, all we received were accolades for the excellent facilities arranged for them by the Government Information Department. As for your contention that the media pack did not contain adequate information, we regret to inform you that this is patently untrue. All media packs contained, in addition to gift and stationery, two booklets: a media guide as well as a commemorative book on the SAARC which contained all relevant information.
These books were included in the media packs given to foreign journalists. Copies were also provided to all local journalists covering the SAARC. There were extra copies available at the two media centres. I am sending herewith copies of these two books for your perusal and archives.
Please be kind enough to publish this note which seeks to correct an erroneous statement in your esteemed newspaper.
Reporters note:
The Director of Information says the Media Guide and the book on the SAARC summit were included in the media pack given to foreign journalists. It was some of these same journalists who complained they did not have adequate material as background for their writings.
Foreign journalists with accreditation for SAARC confirmed to us that the media pack they received contained no such book.
There were no such books included in the media packs for local journalists who found copies of the book titled “Fifteenth SAARC Summit” on the chairs at the BMICH so while the Department says there were 400 local journalists accredited to cover the Summit they were obviously given step motherly treatment.
As for why the foreign media did not bring the “deficiencies” to the notices of the Director, we do not know. | 
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