The Election Commission (EC) focused attention towards publishing, broadcasting or telecasting accurate news related to the forthcoming Presidential Election by print and electronic media during the current election period and said the EC has already appointed a Permanent Representative Committee to monitor it.
EC Chairman R. M. A. L Rathnayake made these comments at a seminar on ‘Media’s Role in Ensuring Free and Fair Presidential Election’, organised by the Sri Lanka Press Association. SLPA Chairman Kurulu Kariyakarawana and General Secretary Thilak Senanayaka were also present.
Chairman Rathnayake also said the EC has already urged all media organisations to publish, broadcast or telecast balanced news without tarnishing the personal image of candidates and also refrain from making discriminatory news against any participating political party that are contesting at the Presidential Election.
Referring to the special time period given to each candidate on TV and radio to make their personal views, the Election Commissioner said it is up to the heads of media organisations to allocate the time period impartially to candidates without considering their popularity.
Meanwhile, the EC highlighted that no print or electronic media should promote any Presidential candidate during the 48-hour period prior to the election date on September 21.
“Since this two-day period has been allocated by the EC as the days the voters should independently judge about the suitability of candidates that should be selected to run the country during the next five years,” he said.
Meanwhile the EC briefly requests all state and private media organisation to refrain from publishing, broadcasting or telecasting any hatred news that are pertaining to the Presidential Election or to candidates during the final days starting from today until the election is over.
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