Adverse electronic media comments on female opera singer:

Prime Minister warns of stern action

The government will not hesitate to take stern action against any media organisations that attack individuals and continue with unethical practices, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned in response to recent adverse electronic media comments on an opera singer.

“Media institutions are not properties of their owners. They belong to the citizens of the country, of which nearly 52 percent are women. If media insults women, then they do not respect the majority of the population,” the Premier said

Wickremesinghe made these comments in a special media statement in Badulla yesterday. He was responding to the recent derogatory remarks by certain electronic media over an individual.

“There is freedom for constructive criticism or praise but attacking a person in abusive language cannot be accepted,” he said.

Wickremesinghe warned the government would not tolerate any verbal attacks on individuals by the media. “During the previous government, media personalities were told to attack those opposing the government or the rulers and their family. There seems to be trace elements of this habit still prevailing. They cannot practise their habits under this government,” he warned.

The Prime Minister said the government would sternly implement the selection criteria when issuing transmission licence to electronic media, taking into consideration any unethical conduct.

Commenting on the criticism levelled at the opera singer, he said he would inquire from heads of the relevant television station whether they have conducted a disciplinary inquiry over the controversial statement. “I assumed the joint opposition would critisise the government for not taking any action against the unethical conduct of certain media personalities in attacking an individual like the opera singer. But I believe they do not value such moral conduct and found it unimportant,” he pointed out.

“The government will not allow the media to attack individuals, women, religions or ethnicities. It is high time the media conducted their work in a professional and ethical manner, he added.

Wickremesinghe said with regard to issuing the transmission licence to electronic media, the government would take a more exacting path after discussions with officials of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.