Sirisena, Ranil say media enjoys unprecedented freedom!

Monday, 9 January 2017 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday singled out the media as the biggest beneficiary of Yahapalanaya, saying they enjoyed unprecedented freedom.

“People ask what has he (President) done. I like to tell critics that not a single journalist has been killed or fled the country. We haven’t used guns or attacked the media but they have enjoyed unprecedented freedom,” the President said at the official ceremony to mark the second anniversary of his presidential inauguration. However, he expressed hope that the media would become more objective.

During his speech Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also remarked that the media was enjoying great freedom and also behaving as if only today there is a dictator and not before. He also said people were enjoying freedom by being able to attack the Government.

“Given that there are so many anti-government posters the printing industry must be booming,” he quipped, causing the audience at the BMICH to erupt in laughter.