I’LL STRENGTHEN MEDIA FREEDOM

Ne w Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said yesterday he would further liberalize media freedom giving journalists unrestricted access to criticize any one whether it was fair or unfair. He said politicians must be alerted by the media because it is the media by exposing them when they engage in fraud and corruption helped them to remain honest and clean politicians.

“In other words honest politicians with a clean track record need not be afraid of the media because they know that the media has no reason to point fingers at them,” he said.

Mr. Premadasa said this when addressing media personnel at the ‘Water’s Edge’ at Battaramulla.

“The fourth estate on which democracy stands is the media, the other three being the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Therefore, if media collapses or is weakened, democracy will also collapse. That is why we must project the media because the media is the mainstay of any democracy,” he said.“we have first hand experience as to how the media was suppressed, trampled and crushed before 2015. Journalists were abducted, harassed and murdered in cold

We must project the media because the media is the mainstay of any democracy

blood. Media institutions were invaded and set on fire. Media personnel fled the country fearing for their lives while the judiciary, media freedom and law and order were in tatters. they had no voice and rulers did what they wanted. after 2015 we restored democracy, the rule of law and media freedom making way for the media to attack us even with fabrications, distortions, canards and absolute lies. though unethical, unhealthy and indecent we have given you that freedom and I assure you that I stand for that freedom and dignity.”

Mr. Premadasa said the question before the media is whether you want this freedom you enjoyed during the past four and half years to continue or do you want to return to that dark era of dictatorship, white van, abductions and murders.