JT. OPP. URGES MEDIA SECRETARY TO QUIT

The Joint Opposition yesterday urged Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Nimal Bopage to resign from his post for making an irresponsible statement on the Joint Opposition.

“The Ministry Secretary has gone against the law with his threats to media. What right does he have to go against the media?”

Addressing a media briefing, Joint Opposition parliamentary group leader MP Dinesh Gunawardane said the Ministry Secretary was ‘obstinate and undeveloped’ to issue such a statement asking the media to refrain from covering the ‘Joint Opposition’.

“The Ministry Secretary has gone against the law with his threats to media. What right does he have to go against the media?” he asked.

“The reason behind his statement is to sabotage the giant May Day rally organised by us. I would like to owe my gratitude to the journalists, who have published the Joint Opposition’s reports even last night, despite of the statement issued,” he added. He said the preparations for the historic Sri Lankan May Day rally would continue despite of many hindrances. He also said the Government was terrified and afraid due to it.

Meanwhile, Joint Opposition member MP Prasanna Ranatunga said the Government had violated the media freedom, even though the people had been guaranteed by them complete media freedom.

“The Ministry Secretary has become the secretary of ‘Sirikotha’. I would like to challenge him to bring an end to the media publicises of the term ‘Joint Opposition’ if he can,” he added.