( President Maithripala Sirisena facilitating journalist Sunil Madhawa Premathilake)
President Maithripala Sirisena had said that some media institutions were attempting to make him disappear politically even though the new government had ensured media freedom by putting an end to the disappearances of journalists, reports Daily Mirror.
The President had said that the media should report the truth with criticism through discussion and wisdom. He had expressed these views at the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Press Association held at the BMICh on 9th Oct.
President had further said that when the new Government is working with the media ending the era of disappearances, white vans abductions and interference of any kind, the responsibility of the media is not to isolate the Government politically, reported the Colombo Gazette .
He had called on journalists to write the truth without giving any space to achieve narrow objectives of some extremist elements.
The President had emphasized that the new Government is fully committed to ensure media freedom and freedom of this country. He further said that the new Government had ended the era of telephoning editors to put headlines in some newspapers.
Making a criticism for criticising him the President had said that he noted last week one English newspapers had published an article which contained fabricated facts on his recent visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly. He had further said that even though criticism and dialogue is important for good governance, it is necessary to ensure professional standards of the media and its ethics is maintained.
President Sirisena came under heavy criticism for taking his son as a member of his offcial delegation to UN General assembly held in New York.