MR says media censorship being enforced by Government

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today accused the Government of enforcing media censorship.

He said that President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are putting pressure on the media and preventing them from reporting on some issues.

The former President, speaking in Batticaloa, said that the private media are facing the most amount of censorship by the Government.

Rajapaksa said that some newspapers have even been forced to remove political columns as a result of pressure being exerted by the Government.

“Some media are threatened saying their licence will be cancelled,” he claimed.

Rajapaksa also said that in Parliament the joint opposition is not given enough space to voice its concerns on National issues.

He accused the Speaker of being part of the attempt to silence the joint opposition.

Rajapaksa also insisted that he is not working against any community or religion and he urged those who have names like “Maithri” to live by the meaning of the name.

The former President said the Government must ensure all communities live together in unity in a united country.?(Colombo Gazette)