UNP Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa says that a group of bankrupt politicians, notorious for theft, fraud, corruption and raping women have come up with the idea of introducing a code of ethics for journalists to prevent media men reporting the truth.
MP Premadasa, addressing a Sasunata Aruna programme held at Poorvarama temple in Nelligoda, Ahungalla in the Balapitiya electorate on Saturday (22) to mark the 89th birth anniversary of his late father President Ranasinghe Premadasa, said the proposed code of ethics would prevent the media from reporting on many important issues. "This is nothing but an attempt to prevent the reporting corruption, fraud and wrongdoings taking place with the blessings of politicians. Sri Lanka is going to be the first country where a bunch of corrupt politicians introduces a code of ethics to journalists."
Premadasa said some at the higher echelons of power today had forgotten the way they had once taken to streets with trumpets, staged street dramas, and Paada Yaathras for media freedom and many other public causes. They were now busy finding ways and means of gagging the media, MP Premadasa said.
Free media should exist as there would be no democracy without it, said the former Deputy Leader of the UNP. "People have a right to know how the politicians fare after obtaining their votes. It is with the vote of the people that politicians are elected and the people should know everything the latter do, be it right or wrong. Thanks to the media, people came to know of the wrong act of a politician in Wayamba, who ordered a teacher to kneel down. Similarly, it is through media, people got to know of another politician throwing parties to celebrate sexual assaults on girls which he considered achievements. Therefore, the people must rise against the politicians who try to silence the media."
The Hambantota District MP said that there was a baseless allegation against him that he was working according to a media-oriented agenda seeking cheap publicity. "I have never had a media-related agenda in my public work. There is no hidden agenda. I have never sought cheap publicity but worked for the betterment of the people," the MP added.
Galle District UNP MP Gayantha Karunatillake, Member of the Southern Provincial Council and Balapitiya UNP Organiser Asoka Dhanawansha de Silva, Opposition Leader of the Balapaitiya Pradeshiya Sabha Gamini Yasaratne Silva, Opposition Leader of the Karandeniya Pradeshiya Sabha S.A Jayasinghe, Members of the Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha, Asela De Zoysa, Pawarasiri De Zoysa, M.W. Senerath, Ushantha Mendis, Rathna Irangani Thabrew were among those present.
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