http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=72513
EC raps broadcasters By Kelum Bandara Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has requested the chairmen of Sri Lanka Rupavaihini Corporation and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in writing to allocate air time in their respective channels for Opposition Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka to counter allegations made against him. Earlier, Gen. Fonseka had asked for such an opportunity to reply to various allegations made against him by some government politicians through the state electronic media. Accordingly, the Commissioner had written to the chairmen of these two state media organizations to arrange such facilities for the Opposition Common Candidate. Mr. Dissanayake appears to be rigid in implementing election regulations in the run up to the presidential poll. Earlier, he directed IGP Mahinda Balasuriya to cancel the transfer of SP Ampara Jayantha Rohana Jayawardane to Kilinochchi. The government got angry with Mr. Jayawardane because he acted to remove the unlawful cut-outs of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his police division. Following the Commissioner’s directive, Mr. Balasuriya informed Mr. Jayawardane of the cancellation of his transfer on Friday. Accordingly, Mr. Jayawardane resumed his work in Ampara on Saturday. Meanwhile, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) also commented on the media behaviour during the election period. Organization’s Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said that most media institutions except a few are acting in a partial manner. “As it appears to us, the state media are utterly biased. However, we have not monitored the media in a scientific manner,” he said. ‘Cut-outs, posters still on display’ By Dayaseeli Liyanage The District Assistant Elections Commisioners (AECs) had informed the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake that despite assurances given by the OICs of police stations that illegal election cut-outs and posters had been removed - it was not so in practice. Several Assistant Elections Commissioners had sent photographs and video footage of cut-outs, banners and posters that continue to be on display despite the Elections Commissioner’s orders to the police OICs to remove all illegal election propaganda material. A senior officer of the Elections Secretariat said the photographic and video evidence had shown the reports sent by police OICs were not correct. The Elections Commissioner had instructed the District Assistant Elections Commissioners to monitor and report on the removal of election cut-outs and banners. The Rs. 12 million wanted by the police to remove the cut-outs and banners had been provided by the Elections Secretariat for the task and the IGP had been summoned to the Elections Secretariat for a special discussion on the matter last week. The Elections Secretariat official said that necessary action would be taken within the next two weeks regarding police OICs who did not abide by the Elections Commissioner’s orders. ------------------------------------ -- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTMedia mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE Share media news, discuss journalism issues and network with media professionals across South Asia on this mailing list. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTMedia by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTCaste: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
