AJITH SIRIWARDANA 
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Limitations needed to prevent conflicts: Keheliya
Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella today said media control was sometimes needed during incidents like the one in Aluthgama to prevent possible escalation of violence.
“Sometimes there are needs for media control on such incidents to prevent possible violent incidents in future. People should understand that it’s not because of favouring one side. Even the President himself had put limitations to prevent a conflict in the country again,” he said.
He said he regretted and took the responsibility if there was any distress or inconvenience caused to any faction by media reporting on the incident.
He expressed these views when he met organisations of Buddhist monks including the National Sangha Council, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and Sihala Ravaya at the Ministry.
The monks alleged that media reports of international, local media institutions and some foreign missions in Sri Lanka had concealed the harm and damage caused to the Sinhalese by the Aluthgama riots.
The General Secretary of the BBS, Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera charged that some ministers and parliamentarians were making false statements on the incident.
He said they should also be given more opportunities to answer allegations against them and to make people aware of their side of the story.
Meanwhile, Ven. Ayagama Samitha Thera said the incident where he was assaulted was also not given publicity but said the Aluthgama riots were given much publicity instead.
Monks said the Media Ministry should take responsibility of the false statements made by cabinet ministers on the Aluthgama incidents and urged the ministry to create a mechanism to rectify allegations made against Sri Lanka based on the Aluthgama incidents.(Darshana Sanjeewa and Lahiru Pothmulla)
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