Following the Easter Sunday attacks on April 26, print media journalists found it increasingly difficult to reach Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara and Military Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu for comment. The calls would often go unanswered or media personnel would be told the spokesmen were unavailable for comment.
As a result, print media organizations have had to rely solely on communiques issued by the Police Media Unit, Sri Lanka Army Media Unit and the Ministry of Defence for information without being given the opportunity for any further clarifications. However, on the contrary, the electronic media has enjoyed easy access to the spokesmen who appear to readily provide voice cuts for electronic media organisations.
Media personnel are also disgruntled by the decision to hold press conferences on the prevailing security situation without the attendance of journalists, thereby blocking the opportunity for them to raise questions relating to the situation and obtain further information. Media institutions instead, have had to make do with recorded clips of the press briefings sent by the Ministry of Defence.