President always respected Democracy, says Media Minister

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene explained that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had briefed him to appear and , inform the President if any legal issue arise for a journalist within his career. This is to help the journalist, and nothing else.

Minister Abeywardene said this addressing the media personnel yesterday at the Ministry of Mass Media and Information, adding that the Sri Lankan media had been given unprecedented freedom by the Government.

Minister emphasized that the president and the government did not want to harass journalists and that was why the President stressed the need to inform him as the Media Minister of care taker government before any legal action is taken against media personalities.

The Media Minister said that President also directed him to write to the IGP Mahinda Balasuriya through the Media Ministry Secretary to inform any arrest of journalist to him (Minister Abeywardene). On being reported any such incident, he said that he would immediately pass on the information to the President. He also added that the process would be followed only for the issues related to journalistic works and the Minister or the President will not in involve personal incidents.

He further said that some media brought wrong definitions over the arrest of failed Presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka. Minister said that President always respected democracy, allowed him to contest the elections against him. “If he wanted to prevent his contesting he should have rejected his resignation from the post of Chief Defense of Staff. He should have not informed him that he received his resignation letter. Within 48 hours, President responded to his letter and acknowledged the letter”, the Minister added.

The Minister reiterated that the freedom of the media was a significant feature in any democracy practiced around the world and the media should not behave in a manner that would be harmful to norms of democracy. It was the responsibility of the media to exercise that freedom in a meaningful manner, he stressed.

- Asian Tribune -