No media freedom in SL, Journos practicing self-cencorship - Lal Kantha

The JVP says that there's no media freedom in the country and the reporters are practicing a form of self-censorship for survival.

JVP politburo member and trade union wing leader K.D. Lalkantha said that there were once white vans that pursued reporters, which has now stopped.

This, he said, is not because of the establishment of democracy in the country, but because of the self-censorship practiced by the media personnel in the country.

"Journalists are now used to writing in manner to avoid white vans coming after them," Lalkantha said.

He observed that the people in the country therefore did not have a proper mean of knowing the truth and the real situation of the country.

He explained that the JVP is engaged in an awareness creating programme by visiting from village to village to build a dialogue with the people.

"The media criticizes government ministers, MPs, local government members and members of the opposition. However, they refrain from writing about members of the Royal family," Lalkantha referring to the President's family noted. He added that a Sri Lankan nation had to be created where there would be no room for any sort of communalism.