![]() Imagine a Cabinet with Mathew, Gamini J, Gamini D, Lalith A, Wimala Kannangara et al being pro-Tamil? I believe in Panditharatne’s report there was something to this effect. But in the 6 decades since, it is no more so. This may have had some relevance during Sir John’s days and prior to that. It is necessary for some brains in the UNP to remove that inherent prejudice in the vast Sinhala electorate the UNP is a pro-Christian pro-Tamil party. Thrisantha – Come to think of it Mangala might be a uniting force in the divided UNP. I call upon all media institutions to shed their differences and stand together in the unequivocal condemnation of this latest threat against Sirasa and Uthayan in the knowledge that while today it might be their turn, the suppression will not end until each and every newspaper, radio station and television station is effectively silenced and subjugated. Let those who attempt to terrorize the media remember that every successive attack will not only unify the media against the ruling powers, but also galvanize all sections of the opposition to join the fight against a common enemy. Its mission is to wipe out the last vestiges of the independent media in the country and rob the people, perhaps permanently, of their right to information. That a campaign to suppress dissent is underway is crystal clear. We reiterate that this consistent assault on independent media institutions is a gross infringement of the people’s fundamental right to free expression and impedes their right to information and condemn this culture of intimidation and suppression unreservedly. It is a travesty that as such crimes against the nation’s free press go unpunished, the Government’s law enforcement arm remains exclusively preoccupied with brutally quelling garbage disputes in Colombo’s low income neighbourhoods or attacking peaceful demonstrators protesting against the meteoric rise of extremist groups that are sowing hate and discord between communities of people in this country. Scribe killers, white vans and armed groups terrorising media institutions have roamed outside the ambit of the law for long enough. For too long the incumbent regime has left questions unanswered about repeated and debilitating attacks on this country’s Fourth Estate. We call upon the Government to ensure the safety of the premises, equipment and personnel of the Sirasa Media network and the Uthayan newspaper. ![]()
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December 2022
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