Friday, 5 December 2014 00:27
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Keheliya charges that networks are politicking for Opposition
State media bias allegation being raised with polls chief: Minister
Will not stop telecasting development work on state TV
By Dharisha Bastians
Talk-show politics took centre stage again yesterday after the Government said it has decided to stop attending political debates on a private media network, accusing the station of carrying out an Opposition agenda.
Following the highly publicised walkout of Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage from the Wada Pitiya talk show on Wednesday, Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government had made a decision to boycott the program and refuse to send representation.
“Some television networks strategically engage in a form of base politics. They put their own opinions forward using callers who use false names and cast aspersions on Government members,” Minister Rambukwella told the Cabinet briefing yesterday.
Minister Rambukwella accused Opposition members of hiding behind anonymous phone calls to sling mud at UPFA politicians.
The usual practice, the Media Minister said, was for the television network to suspend the call when the caller was making defamatory statements or slinging mud against individuals.
“This network did not do that - for three minutes the caller was allowed to call the minister a thief,” Rambukwella charged.
“It is the Government’s right to refuse to engage on that platform,” the minister said.
Asked if he believed the state-controlled media was conducting itself in a non-partisan way, Minister Rambukwella acknowledged that there were allegations about state media bias.
“The issue is being raised with the Elections Commissioner and some people may think that the state media is biased,” he said.
However, the minister insisted that the Government would not stop telecasting documentaries and visuals about its development drive, even if this was creating a perception of bias.
“As a party that is a decision we have made, we will not stop this policy,” he noted.
He argued that there were only two state media channels against over 20 privately-owned networks.
“We have no problem with them, we have granted them licences and we don’t hinder their media freedom. These networks make various allegations against us but we don’t try to block any of that. However, it is our prerogative to decide that we will not participate in their programming,” the minister explained.
No callers had the right to refer to ministers or public figures by name and call them out as thieves without evidence, Minister Rambukwella said.
This is the second time that political talk shows have turned controversial since the election was declared.
On 22 November, the alleged blocking of the Sirasa network on two satellite television operators during a political talk-show involving common candidate Maithripala Sirisena and other key Opposition figures caused an uproar among viewers.
Minister tries to undo ‘plundering’ gaffe
Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera attempted to undo a major gaffe yesterday by denying reports that he had admitted the UPFA Government had ‘plundered’ from the State.
The minister - who came in for serious criticism after he was quoted as saying people were better off keeping the UPFA in power since its members had already “plundered enough” over nine years and may not need to steal anymore - told reporters yesterday that he had been “misquoted.”
Amaraweera allegedly said in the original report that if the UNP wins power a new set of politicians would have to start “making a killing.”
He told a news conference at the SLFP headquarters that neither he nor any member of the Government was corrupt.
Aluthgamage complains to police over candid caller
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has made a police complaint against the caller who allegedly defamed him during a political talk-show on a private channel on Wednesday night.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said Minister Aluthgamage had made the police entry at midnight on Wednesday at the Mirihana Police Station.
The Sports Minister accused the television network of working to an Opposition agenda and stormed out of the program, bringing it to a complete standstill.
The minister has asked police to investigate the caller and said he had cause to sue the caller for defamation.
