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| I have no list of journalists that were in LTTE payroll – Media Minister |
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 (Lanka-e-News, 04.June.2009, 8.30PM) Minister of Media and Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa says that he has not received a list of the journalists that have been under LTTE pay list although he had heard about such list. He says that he cannot point finger at anybody until the investigations are conducted.
At the cabinet press briefing held in the auditorium of the Ministry of Media today (04), a journalist pointed out that state-owned and some other media had announced that around 50 journalists had been in LTTE payroll assisting them. He said that if it was true, the government could publicize the list and take legal action against them instead of abducting and killing them. He asked if the government was trying to prevent exposing the culprits that abducted and assaulted Poddala Jayantha, through arresting Lanka-e-News chief editor Sandaruwan Senadheera and news editor Benet Rupasinghe, who informed the police chief, Information Director Anusha Pelpita. President’s Coordinating Secretary Kumarasiri Hettige, Poddala Jayantha’s wife and other relevant authorities.
The Minister Anura Yapa said that attacking Poddala Jayantha was a worthless act and he is an employee of Lake House that has not created any problem in his work place. The Minister said that Poddala Jayantha was a friend of his and he was unaware how the incident took place.
Minister Yapa said that nothing could be expressed about any journalist until investigations are carried out. The Minister said he was unaware of a list of names given by Daya Master and no one could be blamed until an investigation is conducted despite there is such list.
He said that the investigations should be on the persons that helped the LTTE for money and not about the individuals that talked with LTTE, the Minister said in response to a query of a journalist. |
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The Minister said that two journalists had been arrested for interrogation and released on bail by court. He said that he could not advise police on the ways the investigations should be conduced. “No matter of interrogating. Release them immediately if there is no connection,” the police have been instructed, the Minister says.
A journalist explained that although the Minister said that there was no list of journalists that helped the LTTE, the Dinamina newspaper that is under his administration stated in its editorial written by Mahinda Abesundara that Sunanda Deshapriya and Poddala Jayantha were Tiger associates that should be killed. Independent Television Network Thulawa programme compeer Sudarman Radaliyagoda repeatedly asked from the Army Commander what action would be taken against the anti-war journalists. A journalist queried if the media practice of these journalists would not put some other journalists in peril. Minister Yapa said he could do act if something happened in media under his Ministry and promised to focus his attention to the matter. |
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