We will not issue official results to them: EC Chairman

Colombo, September (Daily Mirror) - Highlighting the utmost importance of media houses sticking to the guidelines issued to them by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, Commission’s Chairman R. M. A. L. Rathnayake warned that they will not issue official results of the Presidential Polls to such defying media houses.

The commissioner said although by law, the commission could not take action against any media house for disobeying or not following the media guidelines issued by them when reporting an election, the commission could distance themselves from such media houses.

When asked about the measures taken against any media house be it a newspaper or a television channel for violating the media guidelines, the Chairman said first they will issue warnings not to violate the guidelines.

“If any media house repeatedly violates the media guidelines issued by us, then we will even consider going to the extent of not issuing them with the official election results,” Rathnayake said.

He said the commission issues official results to the media house through various digital forms like email and WhatsApp, but if the commission decides to not furnish any media house with the official results, then the latter cannot quote the commission for the results they release to the public.

The commission issued official media guidelines on July 26 this year through a government announcement.