Officials are yet to take any action against private media institutions that are repeatedly acting in contravention of the media guidelines set out by the National Election Commission (NEC).
In the most recent incident, private broadcaster Hiru in a news bulletin this week falsely quoted Former Minister and UPFA MP A.H.M. Fowzie as saying “to protect the SLFP Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be killed”. However instead what Fowzie actually said was “to protect the SLFP Gotabaya Rajapaksa must be defeated”. Just days before, the same television channel was accused of erroneously reporting a statement made by United National Party (UNP) MP Mujibur Rahman.
Speaking to the Sunday Observer, Fowzie said he has lodged a complaint with the Chairman of the Election Commission and the Police Headquarters as well. The MP has also threatened to take legal action against the television channel.
When the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) on October 17 wrote to all private television channels on the direction of the NEC, it warned the channels to adhere to the media guidelines set out.
“We have been informed to take action to control private and state media institutions which are severely infringing the media guidelines set out for the election period” the communique sent out read.
However speaking to the Sunday Observer Director General of the TRCSL, P.R.S.P. Jalathilake said the Ministry of Mass Media or the NEC must direct the TRCSL to take action against any errant broadcaster. “They must inform us to take action and also as to what action we must take against the channel” he said explaining that the role of independently policing private broadcasters does not fall within the purview of the TRCSL.
While on the same day the second news bulletin at 10.00 pm carried the news in the corrected form, the broadcaster had later also taken down the clips of the same uploaded online. However Fowzie is yet to receive an official apology from the channel.
“The particular private TV channel distorted my statement and attempted to give a wrong impression to the country. There can be a threat to my life due to that TV visual. There are so many people who like Gotabaya Rajapaksa. They might wonder whether I have made such an offensive statement” he said. Meanwhile Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has also written to the Commission pointing out the reporting by Hiru. Minister Samaraweera in his letter has pointed out that the TV channel in question is attempting to incite communal unrest and has called upon the Election Commission to take appropriate action in this connection.
When the Sunday Observer spoke to the Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) Mahinda Deshapriya, he said that the commission had already informed the TRCSL to inform private and state TV channels about guidelines and that there is nothing more they could do.
“Persons affected by distorted news items should complain to the Media Ministry or take action against such media institutions privately,” Chairman said.