By Easwaran Rutnam   

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says there are no “third class” journalists registered with the Media Ministry. 

He was responding to a question raised by Daily Mirror, on comments made by Director of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Dr. Hemantha Herath at the Ministry of Health.   

 
Dr.Herath was caught on camera telling reporters after a media conference that some of the journalists killed in the past were third class journalists.   

Minister Rambukwella said that there were no “third class” journalists registered with the Media Ministry.   
“If they (journalist) have taken it upon themselves that the comments refer to them, then I am sorry about it. I don’t want any member to be called third class,” he said.   

Media rights groups had demanded that Dr. Hemantha Herath tender an apology over his comments.   
The demand for an apology was made by the Free Media Movement, Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions, Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Association, and the Young Journalists Association.