“The Police detect crime and the media markets it” - Silumina Editor

by Priyan de Silva, Matara Sports Cor.

“The Police detect crime and the media market it. There is much in common between these two services as they work for the benefit of the society. The personnel from these two institutions do not turn their backs to danger. Once, when a bomb exploded it was only the personnel from the Police and the Media who ran towards the scene of the explosion while all others ran away from it.

It is essential that the Police and media should work together for the betterment of society” said Karunadasa Sooriyarachchi, Editor of Silumina newspaper addressing the officers in charge of all Police stations and Media personnel of the Matara and Hambanthota districts at the University of Ruhuna’s guest house yesterday. The workshop was organised by the Police Department to foster good relations between the police and media personnel.

“Media personnel should provide accurate information and not misquote the informant. There are instances when media has blown incidents out of proportion and made mountains out of mole hills. For example the once famous ‘Grease devils’ who never existed was a topic created and marketed by the media. It was shown pictorially how a simple drawing of a human face could be misrepresented if only a part of it is taken into consideration at a time. Hence it is of utmost importance that a complete investigation of an incident is made prior to penning your report “he added.