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SJB Colombo mayoral candidate Mujibur Rahman
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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) mayoral candidate Mujibur Rahman yesterday accused the President’s Media Division (PMD) of spreading misinformation by planting news items relating to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the upcoming Local Government polls.
Rahman during a media briefing accused the Government of threatening the members of the EC in order to delay the election.
He said while the resignation letter of EC member P.S.M. Charles was publicised on 25 January, the PMD has now claimed the President has not accepted it yet.
“In other words, the president received the letter only after four days. Now they are attempting to portray it as if the President is against her decision to step down,” he said.
Rahman also accused the PMD of disseminating a rumour, claiming the EC Chairman Nimal Punchihewa was set to resign.
“The PMD is carrying out a campaign to delay the election. We know who runs it. They are just a group of boys known for planting news stories. They have no media experience. One PMD staffer worked for MP Patali Champika Ranawaka. He is no journalist and is instead known for playing games and planting news stories. Ranil Wickremesinghe is attempting to manipulate the media through this group,” he said.
The former SJB MP called on the President to end the destruction he has unleashed on the media culture of Sri Lanka through these novices employed by the PMD. “We ask him to not commit such criminal acts,” he said.
Commenting on the latest threats against EC member M.M. Mohamed, Rahman questioned who would have the need for his resignation.
“It is the President and the Government who are unwilling to hold the polls. They are the ones issuing these threats,” he said, adding that the CID can discover those issuing the threats by analysing the calls placed by those employed at the Presidential Secretariat.
Expressing his concerns about Charles, Rahman said she has gone missing since submitting her resignation.
“I have my suspicions that she is being held by those in the PMD. Her mobile is going unanswered. She has disappeared and the media cannot contact her. The PMD is acting like a terror outfit. Instead of behaving as a media unit, it is now controlling the Sri Lankan political arena,” he said.
Reminding the PMD of its duties, Rahman said its task is to report to the President. “They are not being paid to issue threats to the EC or to plant news items about it. We cannot allow the PMD to violate the people’s democratic rights,” he stressed.
- Pic by Lasantha Kumara
