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State
media bosses snub Polls Chief The heads of Rupavahini, the SLBC and Lake House had been called for the meeting of party leaders on Friday after Mr. Dissanayake gave an assurance to party leaders the previous week that he would take steps to ensure a fair and balanced coverage. The Commissioner told party secretaries on Friday that the state media bosses had not responded to his call and he had no power to take further action. The parties, however, urged the commissioner to use the powers vested in him by the 17th Amendment and appoint a competent authority to ensure fair coverage for all parties in the state media. Last Monday, the Elections Commissioner issued comprehensive fresh guidelines to the media, but party secretaries complained again on Friday that the state media were not taking the guidelines seriously. Rupavahini Chairman Harim Peiris who is also the President's media spokesman said he did not and would not attend the meeting. "We have appointed a deputy director to handle election-related matters. So it is up to him to send a representative or even attend the meeting. Even if the commissioner had sent me the letter, my office would direct the letter to the relevant official," Mr. Peiris remarked. However, election officials said the commissioner had wanted the heads of state media institutions to attend the meeting - not their representatives. In his 18-point guidelines issued to the electronic media on Monday, the Elections Commissioner called for accurate, balanced and impartial coverage of the polls campaign. He said unsubstantiated allegations should not be made against any party leader or candidate and that media institutions should act fairly in selecting participants for panel discussions. |
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