Clarify threat to "teach a lesson" to journalists, SLWJA to PM

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association (SLWJA) has called on Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe to clarify his recent remarks where he threatened to "teach a lesson" to journalists.

Expressing its strong displeasure at the Premier’s controversial comments made in Kandy recently, the SLWJA said in a statement: “Prime Minister Wickremesinghe needs to explain what exactly is this lesson that he intends to teach journalists."

The statement noted that the SLWJA had earlier expressed its displeasure to the Prime Minister regarding the tone he adopted in his criticism of the media when he met journalists’ associations at Temple Trees.

The SLWJA acknowledged that the Prime Minister or, any other person, had a right to criticise the media. “However, if attempts are made to control the media under the guise of this right, we will not hesitate to oppose them.”

The statement further called on Mr. Wickremesinghe to reveal the names of journalists who are allegedly involved in corruption and to initiate legal action against them.

"If a journalist files deliberately distorted news reports regarding a particular person or political party, such actions are against media ethics, and action should be taken against such journalists," the SLWJA said. "However, what should be done is not to insult and threaten the media, but to complain to the relevant media regulatory institutions. If that is deemed insufficient, they can always initiate legal action against such persons," the statement concluded.