EC withdraws ban on airing of political programs on ITN

• Commission Chairman writes to ITN informing ban withdrawn 
• Follows representations made to EC by several parties

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday withdrew the ban he imposed on State-owned Independent Television Network (ITN), after objections were raised against the move. 

Representatives of ITN and others had objected to the move on the grounds that this was discriminatory against one channel, while no action has been taken against other television stations against which complaints have been lodged in the past.  

Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya sent the letter on Friday night, prohibiting ITN from airing any live political programs, and instructing the station to clear the content of all political programs with the Elections Commission. 

However, he retracted the ban yesterday and requested the station to abide by the guidelines issued by the EC to the media.