Ranil slams media again

COLOMBO: Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe lashed out at the media and several senior journalists at a press briefing at the Parliamentary complex yesterday.

This follows his earlier criticism of the Daily Mirror and its editor for describing him as a weak leader in an opinion piece.

This statement was condemned by a number of media rights organisations and newspaper editors. Wickremesinghe again singled out the Daily Mirror and its editor, saying the Mirror was promoting communalism. The Sunday Divaina also came in for criticism.

“Certain media institutions in the country had surpassed the boundaries of decency and impartiality in promoting communalism,” he said.

Wickremesinghe alleged that the media and several journalists who hold high posts in certain media organisations are engaged in an attempt to incite chauvinism by giving publicity to Minister Champaka Ranawaka.

“I ask why the Daily Mirror Editor is sowing the seeds of chauvinism by giving undue publicity to the JHU. The MEP should have more space than the JHU if equal space is allocated to the Government and the Opposition alike,” he said.

“I vehemently oppose the sentiments publicised by the Daily Mirror editor. The Sunday Divaina is also involved in cultivating chauvinistic feelings among the public,” he added.

Wickremesinghe said he will stick to the fight against this ploy by the media.