UNP denies involvement in protests against media

THESE PROTESTS WERE STAGED BY SOCIAL ACTIVISTS

The United National Party (UNP) had denied involvement in protests that were staged against media institutions last week.

A statement from the party said the protests were launched by social activists whose goal was to safeguard people’s sovereignty post October 26 last year.“our attention has been drawn to allegations that the protests that were staged against media institutions last week was manned by a NGO backed by our leader. However, we can unequivocally state but we were not involved in it. These protests were staged by social activists,” the statement read.

The party said it was not necessary to remind the country how the UNP stood tall for media freedom especially after media institutions were burnt and journalists gunned down during the term of the last regime.“it was those who belong to black media clans that drove away the peaceful protesters on January 10, the statement added. We commend those media institutions who accepted the petitions handed over by the protesters in a peaceful manner,” the statement added.