Media can pinpoint wrongs of judges : LeN had not insulted judges –Media Dep.Minister

-Wijedasa’s rabble rousing statements don’t represent govt. view –cabinet spokesman

(Lanka-e-News -24.Nov.2016, 2.30PM) The exposure of the faults  of the judges of courts by the media is not   wrongful , said  Karu Paranavithane , the deputy minister of media .

Ravaya Editor Victor Ivan too spearheaded a struggle on behalf of the independence of the judiciary , and what he  revealed have not been proved wrong , the deputy minister pointed out. 

The statement made by Justice minister Wijedasa Rajapakse that the Lanka e news website editor shall be got down via an Interpol warrant , was  unrelentingly questioned by the media at the cabinet meeting. 

Question
Minister Wijedasa said , LeN editor will be got down via an Interpol warrant . As minister of media , what have you to say in this regard ?

(Minister Gayantha Karunatileke did not give an answer.)

Question:
Are you not aware of the announcement made by Justice minister ?

Gayantha Karunatileke : I am aware. 

Question:
How can the Justice minister make such a statement before an investigation is conducted?
Answer : Karu Paranavitharne :
I shall explain. We do not know whether Lanka e news editor is a Sri Lankan citizen , or a citizen of another country or he is a refugee in another country. We have no need to punish him by law as a journalist of his media  website .

If such a step is to be taken  that should be done via our ministry  . We shall not do that. During the tenure of office of the last government his media website was set on fire.

Magistrates are being insulted, the justice minister said, but I have not come across such situations. The Justice minister told me too the magistrates are complaining to him they are being vilified. 

Question:
How can steps be taken without a probe?
Answer :
Without an investigation , no measures can be taken. Justice minister only spoke  about the insults , and the criticisms leveled personally against the magistrates.

Question:
When a magistrate was arrested over the robbery of an elephant, that news website in question reported that the  Gampaha magistrate (female) in her   face book page criticized the Attorney General (AG) . We also read that. Are publishing  such reports wrongful ?
Answer :
Reporting and exposing a wrong is not an issue. What   minister of Justice said was , judges are complaining  that personal insults  are being cast on them .

Question:
During the period of the last government this said  website , and other media Institutions were set on fire . Journalists were murdered . Yet investigations are under way only in regard to the deaths of two journalists , why ?

Gayantha K.
Reports of some investigations have been lost . Everything is being investigated. 

Question:
The president and the prime minister too are openly blaming the media . A prominent media was described as a ‘toilet paper’. What do you say to that ?
Answer :
We do not stifle the media. Anybody has the right to criticize the media too.

Meanwhile, minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne disclosed  at the cabinet meeting , the statement made by Justice minister Wijedasa Rajapakse about  the ISIS and the media  do not represent the views of the government . The president also  revealed to him that the announcement made by Wijedasa pertaining to the ISIS is untrue , Rajitha revealed. Owing to this statement , a fear psychosis has been created among the Muslims , Rajtha lamented. 

Report of Tharindu Jayawardena for Lankadeepa 

---------------------------
by     (2016-11-24 08:58:37)