The UNP and media freedom – Daily Mirror clarifies

The main opposition UNP yesterday issued a statement challenging the contents of the Daily Mirror page one comment titled “UNP and the Media Freedom” in which the Editor of the Daily Mirror said that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe reprimanded Daily Mirror journalist Kelum Bandara.

The first statement sent by the UNP yesterday did not have a signature. However when contacted by the Daily Mirror Mr. Wickremesinghe’s Media Secretary Saman Athaudahetti confirmed that the statement was sent by the UNP. Later the UNP sent a second copy signed by UNP spokesman Gayantha Karunatilleka with similar contents.

Please find below the Daily Mirror response to the contents of the UNP statement.

UNP : In its comment titled “UNP and Media Freedom”, the Daily Mirror has failed to live up to the editorial practice that ‘facts are sacred”. It is a misrepresentation of facts.

DM : It is the UNP that has misrepresented facts. We will prove this point in our answers below.

UNP : The Leadership of the UNP did not contact Daily Mirror journalist Kelum Bandara yesterday.

DM : UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe did speak to Kelum Bandara and he used the mobile number 0777 448224 to call the journalist and reprimand him.

Read the full article here,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/11/10/front/2.asp