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The Media Minister's seat is said to be one of the 'hottest' seats when journalists are demanding and accusing the Government for a 'lost media freedom'.

Minister of Media and Government Spokesman, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa occupying that seat, said that the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government had guaranteed media freedom fully and "any one can write and talk about anything freely in this country".

But, he cautioned and urged the media, especially those who write ignoring the national interest at this juncture when the Government is on the verge of defeating a deadly terrorist organisation, to be more circumspective of the LTTE. Reputing the allegation by certain media movements that 12 journalists had been killed under this Government in an interview with the Sunday Observer he confirmed that not a single journalist had been killed by the Government.

Following are the excerpts of the interview:

Q: How do you look at today's media?

A: The media is always a controversial topic, in my view. Whenever there is an issue the media faces the issue as to how to present it to the people. Everytime it is a new kind of experience for everyone. Media want to present its position to its readers or viewers and listeners and they should know how to look at it in the proper way.

So, I think the media always tries to present the issue in a critical manner. But I think people have a right to get diverse opinions and ultimately it will become the focal point. I think media is a very interesting subject.

At present we have so many newspapers, TV and radio channels though we are a small country. People are kept abreast of the news in different ways. However, people can take in all these ideas and come to their own conclusion at the end.

So, I welcome these media. In my opinion media should be free and be able to communicate well in different perspectives. But, sometimes it is disheartening to see how these media institutions behave because they try to highlight the issue in a sensational manner.

I think we have to have certain basic ideas that we all have to share. For example, if we take military information, we should know that certain items should not be discussed.

Anywhere in the world, wherever it be or in a super democratic country or otherwise, usually these types of military matters are not discussed openly. But, here, in our country, the media has been allowed to discuss these issues in negative. I feel that this must not be allowed. Other than that we ought to be free to discuss anything.

On the other hand, I feel that the politicians should take media criticisms lightly as we know that the politicians are criticised by the press frequently. Some of these are in good faith which others are not. I believe if there is something to learn from that criticism we should learn but if they criticise in a disparaging manner, then we have to give a fitting reply. That is how I look at the media.

Q: Media freedom is under severe criticism now, and do you think it is because it is guaranteed under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government?

A: There are certain different thoughts. But as the Minister of Media, I can say that we have a guaranteed media freedom under our administration to the maximum. We allow the media to write anything that they wish. But there are tricky issues also. In certain instances you can see the media touches on certain things in different ways and sometimes they try to propagate certain false ideas.

I must appeal to them. They have the right to criticise and write or comment but remember they must stick to the truth. If they write and publish facts no one will be offended. I apply liberal policies in my ways and I always try to do that but unfortunately certain false propaganda is going on which sometimes tend to tarnish people's images.

Sometimes they do write on issues which should not be spoken openly. But we have a very liberal culture in our media. We want to see media people have all the opportunities to say what they want. But personally I believe that they must be well trained in their chosen profession.

Q: In contrast to your reply on media freedom, the media unions are up in arms saying that the Government is in the process of silencing the media which unearth corruption. How does the Government face this allegation?

A: In Sri Lanka we have been talking about corruption since independence or may be even before. Now the Government has organised a mechanism for that. So, if there is corruption, the media can highlight it and the Bribery and Corruption Commission can take action. But, merely talking about corruption does not mean anything. It is political propaganda. Other than, that the Government itself has its own way of dealing with corruption.

I do not agree with the media organisations which are saying that the Government is suppressing the media. Why are we going to suppress the media and what do we achieve from that? What is the reason for doing so? They must also understand and look at it in a different perspective and try to understand the situation.

Take the issue of the COPE report. Many media institutions wanted to put it into our basket. In fact that was done during the previous regime. The Cabinet had decided to send it to the Attorney General's Department and the Parliament had decided to send it to the Bribery and Corruption Commission.

Q: Are you saying that there is a no deliberate attempt to delay in bringing the culprits before the law?

A: No. The Government has done its best to do justice so far. It is a known truth that in a democratic set up a mere report cannot convict a man. There should be credible evidence and the need to carry out thorough investigations.

These things will take a little time. But without understanding this simple fact the media claims that the Government is trying to block the investigations. That is totally untrue. According to my opinion this allegation is a part of the political propaganda. The media must be mindful of what the Government is doing, what our intentions are and how are we going to do that.

The media is very well aware that certain cases have been referred to Courts and will take time. As we are following democratic principles, the Government allows the other party also a chance to reply.

Without giving that chance, destroying a person's image is not a good thing to do, whether he is in the Government or the Opposition. So the Government is taking every possible action to control corruption in this country. The commission is doing an excellent job now. Let them handle it. The Government cannot do everything in a fortnight.

The Mahinda Rajapaksa Government is trying its level best to minimise bribery and corruption. While we are doing that, it is very unreasonable for the media to say that we are engaging in corruption.

Q: In your view, do you think that today's media is irresponsible in reporting national issues?

A: Definitely yes. Because they want only to sell their papers or the TV programs. But I urge them to be mindful about the national interest.

They must always make sure that they have kind of a responsibility towards this aspect. Today, the media persons lack responsibility. I, as the Minister of Media, cannot forcibly make them responsible.

Some parties say the Government can achieve this in the State media. But we failed to do so that as there are so many writers and so many editors, who have their own individual opinions. We are not going to dictate everything that they should write. The responsibility towards the national interest should have developer within themselves.

That is why I always believe that we should have a kind of a media self regulatory mechanism and a good media school, where media people can get more training. Then only we will be able to achieve standards in media. I strongly believe achieving standards is a key to have a responsible media.

Without pointing a finger at the Government, the media must point a finger at themselves and make sure that we all can correct ourselves through shouldering responsibility in national interests. So there should be a kind of media ethics in the system too.

Q: The 'World Press Freedom Index 2007' released by the Reporters Without Borders (RWB) has ranked Sri Lanka at 156 out of 169 countries. What is your comment?

A: I don't agree with this report. They must understand that we are a country where we have our won internal problems. Usually they get certain information from those who have vested interests and they always give a bad picture of the country's situation. As a responsible Government we are trying to do certain things.

We have already written to the RWB stating our dissatisfaction. When I was going through this Index I was surprised to see even the US was in a lower rank. I totally disagree with their ranking of our country.

Q: It is a common allegation that the Government uses the State media in their propaganda. Can you reject the allegation which claims that this Government too is overusing the media?

A: Using State media, we always try to say the Government's position. That is what we are doing now. There are lots of other news which should be brought to people's attention.

Anyway that does not mean that we are trying always to highlight what the Government is trying to say. No. Even in certain instances the State media has criticised the Government. This allegation has been there for a long period of time and it is not a new issue.

Q: Is there any attempt by the Government to intimidate and humiliate journalists when they try to expose corruption by politicians?

A: No. If there is such a thing they must complaint to me. I have not received any complaint yet. The media personnel have lots of things to resort to if and when they are humiliated and there are courts, an independent judiciary.

Q: The Leader Publication press has been attacked by some interested party viciously. How do you look at this attack to stop them being outspoken about corruption?

A: I strongly condemn the attack. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa heard about the attack he immediately ordered to carry out a full investigation. And he strongly condemned the attack. The police are now investigating it following the directions by President Rajapaksa.

I believe that one should remember that this type of attack should not be allowed to happen in this country in the future. The Government is fully against it and doing its best to find out the culprits to bring them before the law.

By setting fire to a printing press there is nothing to gain. The Government does not have any intention to stop them writing against us. The Sunday Leader and its sister paper can write and say anything that they want. The Government never objected to them for doing so. They are always critical of us and we are aware of it. I am also reading their papers.

Q: Some people speculate that the Government has an involvement in the whole issue. What do you have to say about this claim?

A: No, we do not have a hand in this attack. The President was so upset and told me that he had personally spoken to the Chairman Lal Wickramartunge. He was very upset and the President thinks that whenever he go abroad something is happening and he wants to find out whether there is a secret plot.

Why should the Government set fire to a press? What do we achieve by doing so?

Remember, the Government does not want to fall into such a low level. We don't do such things. Particulary I am very concerned about it. I want to find out the culprits and I believe that is my duty as the Media Minister.

Q: Is there any deliberate attempts in expediting the inquiry into this attack?

A: No, not at all. Actually the Government has given all the assistance needed and if they want more they can contact us. In fact, we will give more support to them.

Q: The Leader Press is in the high Security Zone (HSZ). So, do you agree that there are security lapses in the HSZ and is the Government ready to have a separate inquiry?

A: No, according to the Police report the Press is in the outside of the HSZ. I cannot comment more about that because I do not know exactly where the boundary of the HSZ.

It will be frequented by vehicles at anytime. Now they are questioning everyone including those who guarded the press at that time. They have questioned over 15 people now. The Government is trying its best to find out who the people are.

Q: The Free Media Movement claims that culture of impunity which prevails in the country has prevented any meaningful inquiry into all acts of violence against the media and journalists under this Government. What is your comment?

A: Actually we are conducting an inquiry and why should we stop conducting inquiries. Unfortunately in the given setup in certain instances we have not been able to find who the culprits are. When a person is killed in the Colombo city, we cannot find who the person is immediately. But definitely our police are capable enough to bring the culprits soon before the law. So, let them finish their inquiries.

Q: According to the Movement of Media Suppression, 12 journalists have been killed and several other violence acts against media including abductions, imprisonment and threats have taken place during the past two years. Can you tell the steps taken so far to investigate these incidents?

A: I am not aware that 12 journalists have been killed. The problem is that there is no classification to ascertain who is mediaperson in this country. Anyone can be a mediaperson under the present context. Even a person who wrote just a single article calls himself a mediaperson. I do not agree with that number of journalist killed.

We have taken two journalists into custody including the female Tamil journalist. Actually by the time of her arrest we did not know that she was a journalist. She was arrested due to a terrorist problem and now the problem has been settled.

The other issue was Arthur Wamanan. It has also been solved. So the Government has not done anything illegal. If it is against the concepts there is an independent judiciary. The Government has not involved in anything. We have not killed a single journalist.

We are a country in which is facing the terrorism. They may have involvements in these issues. In every case we have asked the police to do a thorough investigation.

Q: You agreed that we do not have a classification to identify who a journalist is. So are there any plans to classify journalists?

A: I believe that the Government has to do something about it. We have already thought about it.

Whenever the media institutions give us the list of names about their journalists, we allow them to have the media accreditation cards. But what we found was that some people are not actually writers and they are doing something else in those institutions.

In some places the peons are given media accreditation cards and it is a common phenomenon in many media institutions.

Therefore, I think there should be certain guidelines for the media. Here, the so-called media unions should help the Government to formulate this.

Q: However, the culprits or none of the culprits in these cases were ever brought to book. Why?

A: In certain instances we have not been able to find who the culprits are. In a given scenario sometimes it is very difficult to find who the people are. But other than that, in certain cases some culprits are already in remand.

Certain cases have been solved. The fact is that once those cases are solved, no media is willing to highlight the final outcome because they want to drag the issue for sometime. What I can say is that the police are doing their investigations on these issues.

Q: Certain media circles claim that moves are afoot to re-introduce censorship and criminal defamation. Is that true?

A: No. The Government does not have any idea of that nature.

Q: How do you see the reportage of the State media and private media. Do they act in a responsible manner or loosing credibility?

A: You have to be aware of what you are writing. Your thinking is not the news. Unfortunately in Sri Lanka the truth is set aside and something else is written. So, I think that is the responsibility of every media institution whether private or State, to find out what they are writing about before they write.

They should be aware of what they have to write. That means that the responsibility lies on the individuals who are holding the post of Editors and Sub Editors and the owners of the institutions. Therefore, as the Media Minister I urge them to think about this seriously.

Q: Will the ABC Broadcasting get its licence back as the Provincial Councillor Duminda Silva has crossed over to the Government?

A: No, it has nothing to do with that. I have done an inquiry and taken certain decisions. It has also been endorsed by the Supreme Court. But I do not want to comment on that because the case is not over yet. So will wait for the final decision and then I will respond.

But I must tell that whoever joins the Government and whoever goes from the Government, it will not have any baring to my decision. My decision is quite independent as the Minister of Media.

On the other hand I am a trained lawyer by profession and I can take decisions without any bias towards any person and I have taken this particular decision unbiased. I do not go by personal things. Let personal things be personal and let my office and its responsibility be like that. They are two different things.

Q: It is said that silencing the voices against corruption is a universal sign of a weak and desperate administration of a country. How do you see this?

A: In every country, corruption is an issue. So in a given world and a given free trade environment, corruption issues are very much in the news. So it is up to the press to pinpoint it.

And it is the duty of the Government to take steps to eliminate corruption. In Sri Lanka, we have done lots of experiments on this. Earlier we had the Bribery Department and now we have created the Commission for Bribery and Corruption.

The Government is also trying its level best to control corruption. That our responsibility and the press is there to pinpoint corruption. No one can pinpoint and say that we are a corrupt Government. If we are a corrupt Government please say it with details in a constructive manner so that action will be taken to prevent corruption.