No censorship on media - Minister Rambukwella

by Indika POLKOTUWA

There is no absolute control or censorship on Sri Lankan media through the government action taken against the websites based on false and unfounded information, Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

"Instead these steps will help ensure the media freedom and to avoid the black mark on the reputation on the media field of the country by the websites making use of media label as their cover", the Minister remarked.

Minister Rambukwella pointed out that those websites were instrumental on large scale character assassination targeting many people.

He said the Ministry received numerous requests from the general public and from the parents and sometimes even the Ministry was not in a position to take steps against those websites despite the appeals by the parents.

The Minister said that countries like China and Thailand also have taken action against such websites threatening their countries.

"If some sections oppose the steps taken by the Government against such websites there is nothing wrong labelling them as groups against the country", the Minister said.

He also pointed out that though there are mechanisms to rectify false and misleading reports published in newspapers or telecast on television, the lack of such a mechanism with regard to websites has given a free hand for them to harm the country and its people.