Several opposition parties decide to oppose proposed Broadcasting Authority Bill

Several political parties including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the group led by MP G.L. Peiris today decided to oppose the proposed new Broadcasting Authority Bill.

This decision was taken when they met at the Opposition Leader’s office today.

“The proposed legislation will destroy the independent media which is the fourth pillar of democracy. The whole world recognizes that the media is the fourth pillar of democracy,” Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said after the meeting.

“We have decided to take every possible step to defeat this legislation in and outside of Parliament and in the judiciary,” Mr. Premadsa said.

The Opposition Leader recalled that Supreme Court Judge A.R.B. Amarasinghe had held that the Broadcasting Authority Bill of 1997 was totally against the Constitution.

“We call upon the print as well as the electronic media to come together in defeating this Bill and to support us in achieving this goal,” Mr. Premadasa added.

The Leader of the Opposition also alleged that President Ranil Wickremeisnghe has tried to inflict undue influence on judicial officers by treating them to a meal. (Yohan Perera)