The physical assault and intimidation of Sunday Observer journalist Buaneka S. Perera by Presidential Media Advisor Chandana Suriyabandara in Dambulla is a shocking regression for press freedom.
As a journalist, I see a dangerous area emerging where state officials feel entitled to physically bully journalists and dictate who can report on public events. By claiming only “Sirasa” has the right to cover the peace march, Suriyabandara isn’t just acting like a media advisor—he’s acting like a media gatekeeper for a private monopoly while drawing a state position. If this is the “New Culture” of the NPP, then it’s one where accountability is silenced with a shove.
The President must decide: is his media office there to facilitate information or to operate as a thuggish enforcement unit?
