Appoint competent authority to oversee state media until poll ends- SLPP to NEC

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has asked the National Election Commission (NEC) to appoint a competent authority to oversee state media institutions, until the conclusion of the presidential election.

SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa's media spokesman MP Dullas Alahapperuma made the request, when he, along with a group of SLPP representatives, met NEC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, to complain against the conduct of the state media, in the run-up to the election.

In his complaint, Mr Alahapperuma states that the State Media is being extensively used for propaganda activities of New Democratic Front Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa.

The SLPP produced a graph highlighting the alleged disproportionate coverage given to Sajith Premadasa by state TV channels--Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Independent Television Network, in its complaint handed over to the NEC Chairman.

The SLPP also alleges that news bulletins of both channels are clearly biased and violate election laws, while other programmes telecast over these channels are biased in favour of Sajith Premadasa.

The SLPP alleges that the situation is the same on radio, with the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation also broadcasting programmes in favour of Mr Premadasa.

Mr Rajapaksa’s campaign has also complained to the NEC over what it claims is a fake banner being circulated on social media, alleging that Presidential candidate M.L.A.M. Hisbullah is supporting Mr Rajapaksa’s candidature.

“You will agree that it is difficult to hold a free and fair election when state resources and state media are used to promote one candidate,” Mr Alahapperuma notes in his complaint, adding that, they propose that the NEC summons the heads of state media who violate the NEC's media guidelines, and also appoint a competent authority to oversee the state media, until the conclusion of the November 16 poll.

The SLPP produced a graph highlighting the alleged disproportionate coverage given to Sajith Premadasa by State TV channels Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Independent Television Network, in its complaint handed over the NEC Chairman.