Sri Lanka: Sirisena Says When Freedom Of Press Ensured Journalists Must Write The Truth

When the new Sri Lanka Government works with the media ending the era of disappearances, white vans abductions and interferences of any kind, the responsibility of the media is to not to isolate the Government politically, said President Maithripala Sirisena.

Sirisena made these observations participating at the 60th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Press Association held at the BMICH today (9).

When the Government ensures the freedom of the press the duty of a journalist is to write the truth without giving any space to achieve narrow objectives of some extremist elements, Sirisena further said.

Sirisena emphasized that the new Government is fully committed to ensure the media freedom and freedom of this country. He further said that the new Government end the era of telephoning the editors to put headlines in main newspapers.

Sirisena recalled that when he was a Minister, he also faced unpleasant, unethical experiences like political leaders giving telephone calls to write against their own Ministers in the Cabinet.

Sirisena said that he saw last week that one of the English newspapers has published an article which contained fabricated facts on his recent visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly. He further said that even though criticisms and the dialogues are important for the good governance, it is necessary to ensure the professional standards of high quality of media and its ethics.

Sirisena thanked the journalists and media institutions for acting prudently when some extremist elements trying to diminish the victory of the government at the UNHCR .

Sirisena presented awards for ten Senior Journalists at the event.

A portrait of President drawn by a senior artist Thilak Kalu Liyanage, at the venue was presented to Sirisena as a souvenir.