President puzzled about media freedom concerns

• “Our Penal Code used to include a provision for criminal defamation,  which I have removed”
• The President said  he expected massive protests from members of the media, who  have been critical of the proposed Electronic Broadcasting Regulatory  Commission Act 

By Kalani Kumarasinghe

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that concerns about issuing broadcasting licences have been puzzling, especially as the new media laws do not seek to limit media freedom.   

“Why fear about the issuing of (broadcasting) license? Electronic media set fire to my house, in which about 3,000 books were destroyed. It is not just a loss to me, but the country. What are we to do then? Am I to grant licenses for arson? Are you asking for the right to set houses on fire?” President Wickremesinghe questioned, charging that the media have been manipulating the public to propagate such dangerous views.   

The President made these observations during a ceremony held at the Homagama Divisional Secretariat to mark the online issuing of passports. President Wickremesinghe said that he attended the event with apprehension, expecting massive protests from members of the media, who have been critical of the proposed Electronic Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act.   

“Since the Minister of Mass Media Bandula Gunawardena is also here, I was afraid to sit next to him. I expected journalists to come here and protest, saying that the media will be destroyed and a state like North Korea will be created,” the President said.   

President Wickremesinghe commented that it is puzzling as to why the media would interpret the proposed law in this manner. 

“Our Penal Code used to include a provision for criminal defamation, which I have removed. I don’t believe any country in the Asian region has done so. “Why would I destroy media freedom? I have more media connections than anyone else. We have no intention to limit media freedom. What we have here is a different issue,” Wickremesinghe said.   

President Wickremesinghe stressed that the proposed regulatory laws aim to provide recourse to the aggrieved party in certain cases. This approach is employed in many countries, the President said, adding that the United Kingdom’s electronic media regulations will be referred to as a guide, when drafting the laws in Sri Lanka. 

•  President Wickremesinghe stressed that the proposed regulatory laws aim  to provide recourse to the aggrieved party in certain cases