Pressure from foreign missions, NGOs impede media freedom – Minister Weerawansa
For some people, media freedom means the freedom from state
influence, but in actual sense it is the acceptance of ‘santhosam’ from
and yielding to the pressure of certain foreign missions and
Non-Governmental Organisations that impedes media freedom, said
Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities
Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara presents a copy of a special
edition of Janasewana to Construction, Engineering Services,
Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa Pic:
Thushara Fernando |
He was addressing a ceremony at ANCL to mark the second anniversary
of the Janasewana publication. ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara
presented a copy of a special edition of the publication to the
Minister. The Minister said, “According to a recent research conducted
by him he found that almost all weekend English newspapers had published
negative articles on Sri Lanka’s tourism trade.
“It is evident that this is a pre-meditated act. Likewise, the media
profession is being used for some sinister purpose. Similarly, there are
cartoons depicting me. These cartoons have either targeted the same
politicians or incidents. This shows that these people act according to
someone else’s agenda,” he said.
He said, “I too had functioned as a mediaman and this benefited me a
great deal as a politician.
“There is a large number of media personnel who are bold and
forthright unlike those who abuse their profession for the sake of a few
chips from a foreign embassy”.
Referring to the Janasewana publication, Minister Weerawansa said
that it had succeeded in raising public awareness on his ministry and
the institutions under its purview.
ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara, Editorial Director Seelaratne
Senerath, Directors Upul Dissanayke and Rasanga Harischandra, General
Manager Abhaya Amaradasa, Construction Ministry Secretary P.H.L.
Wimalasiri Perera and several others were also present.
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