|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 22 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Political parties free to use any channel - Election Commissioner Election Department will allocate time in the electronic media to all political parties and independent groups contesting the election, once the nominations are concluded. Department sources said that all political parties and independent groups were free to use any media they prefer and the Department would allocate time in the electronic media as specified by the Election Law of the country. Responding to a question in respect of a letter sent by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Harim Peiris regarding the boycott of the State Media by the UNP, Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka said that he could do nothing to get the political parties to use the State Media and they were free to use whatever channel they prefer. Peiris, in letters addressed to the Commissioner of Elections and Secretary to the Prime Minister Bradman Weerakoon, has pointed out that the State Media was not invited to cover the PM's address to the nation via private TV Stations and claimed that said boycott made balanced reporting an extremely difficult exercise. He has also called such actions deeply regrettable and unhelpful to the democratic process. In his letter to the PM's Secretary , Peiris has also requested that the SLRC be granted an interview with the Prime Minister. Peiris, when contacted by the 'Sunday Observer' said that he had not received any response from either the Election Commissioner or the Prime Minister's Secretary. However, he said that he would be meeting the Election Commissioner in the coming week to explain matters to him. Bradman Weerakoon, Secretary to the Prime Minister, told the 'Sunday Observer' that Rupavahini Chairman Harim Peiris' request for an opportunity to interview Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been sent to the PM's Media unit for necessary action. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
