After violence directed towards supporters of the Common opposition candidate Maithripala Senanayaka yesterday, authorities blocked TV interview with him on Cable and Pro TV channels this evening.
Lanka Herald site reported that Several channels of a private electronic media institution MTV/MBC has been blocked this evening on two satellite television service providers to prevent a political debate ‘SATANA’ attended by Common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena, former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero.
Number of journalists and politicians tweeted condemning the censorship by privately owned Dialog cable TV.
Our channels not available on dialog peo, blocked just before political programme Satana. LBO quoting @CHEVDANIEL of MTV #PresPollSL #lka
— lakshaman (@lakshaman) November 22, 2014
SIRASA says they r receiving complaints from viewers that their network is blocked on Dialog & Peo TV, Common Candidate program starts 7.30
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) November 22, 2014
@AzzamAmeen @samarajiva @Sankav84 good example how sri lankas future TV will be govt is talking of introducing digital TV
— Ranga Sirilal (@rangaba) November 22, 2014
I am most disappointed that Dr Hans Wijesuriya has shut off Sirasa, Shakthi and MTV on his Dialog TV. Where is your backbone Hans?
— Harsha de Silva (@HarshadeSilvaMP) November 22, 2014
Government owned PeoTV also blocked the political debate.
It was reported that all three language channels of the MBC/MTV ie, MTV, Sirasa and Shakthi TV had been blocked. on Dialog TV and SLT’s Peo TV.