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Premadasa Criticizes Presidential Advising of Media, Defends Press Freedom

Former Opposition Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa has criticized President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for advising the media, stating that Sri Lanka’s media does not need guidance from politicians on press freedom. Premadasa emphasized that media freedom, a key pillar of democracy, must be safeguarded.

Speaking at a rally in central Colombo, Premadasa asserted that while media freedom and ethics should be upheld, this responsibility should lie within the industry itself through self-regulation. “Instructions from the president or government to control the media threaten press freedom and democracy,” he said, urging President Dissanayake to refrain from giving directives to the media.

Premadasa also noted that, despite critical media coverage of himself and the SJB, he has always respected press freedom and has never sought to interfere with it.

Source – Newswire