<b>CBK summons media minister</b>

Ranga Sirilal - Daily Mirror

President Chandrika Kumaratuga yesterday told Mass Communication Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar and Ministry Secretary Kumar Abeysinghe to meet her immediately to give the same opportunity to PA General Secretary and two PA Parliamentarians to explain the President's conroversial Polonnaruwa speech which had been repeatedly telecast on state television.

Minister Bakeer Markar told the Daily Mirror that President Kumaratunga had phoned him while he was on his way to Agalawatte asking him to meet her today to discuss an official matter.

The minister said he had informed the President that he was out of Colombo and promised to meet her when he returned but had been unable to do so.

Meanwhile, the President had also sent him a letter saying her speech at Polonnaruwa was at a closed-door party meeting where the media was not allowed. But she said the state owned Rupavahni reporter had entered and recorded the speech without permission.

President Kumaratunga has requested the Minister and the Secretary to meet her to discuss the situation and has asked to allow SLFP General secretary Maithripala Sirisena and two SLFPers to make a statement and explain about President's speech on Rupavahini today and tomorrow between 9.00 and 9.30pm.

Courtesy - Daily Mirror