Weligama Declaration objectives not achieved

by Ananda Kannangara

The objective of the Weligama Declaration has not been achieved. The media should play an active role to bridge the gap between communities, Rector, Sripali Campus of the University of Colombo, Dr. Tudor Weerasinghe said.

He was speaking at a media forum, held in Colombo to discuss the objectives of the `Weligama Declaration 2006', which was launched by the Bakeer Markar Centre for National Unity two years ago. "Although it is the responsibility of the media to activate this declaration, I have not seen any developments so far", he said.

Dr. Weerasinghe said that many media personnel give prominence to political matters rather than common issues.He called upon media personnel to focus on issues of public interest national unity, economy and social welfare of people. Former Minister Imthiyas Bakeer Markar said his father had a dream to bridge the gap between all communities irrespective of their cast, creed or religion. The `Weligama Declaration 2006' was launched to fulfil that wish.

He said it was the duty of journalists to be accurate in reporting. Officials from the Sri Lanka Press Institute, leading media personalities, journalists and intellectuals attended the forum to discuss the role of the media in building unity in Sri Lanka.