Academics condemn SL State media for irresponsible reporting

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 March 2004, 17:42 GMT]
The North East Educationists' Forum (NEEF) Wednesday appealed to Sri Lanka's state media to act with a sense of responsibility and to avoid false news items that would disturb the peace now prevailing in Trincomalee district where all three communities live in harmony.

NEEF in a press release cited two recent news items in the Sri Lanka State media, which could have disturbed the existing peace environ in the northeast province, particularly in Trincomalee district.

State controlled Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) in its noon news bulletin on Tuesday reported that LTTE Trincomalee commander, Col. Pathuman, had been killed and on the following day it reported that a hartal organized in Trincomalee was a total failure due to lack of people support.

"Both news items had been false as Col. Pathuman is alive and there was no call for a hartal in Trincomalee," the NEEF said. "Hence the SLBC had carried these items with ulterior motive to induce violence in the Trincomalee district."

" We appeal to the State controlled SLBC and other media to act with a sense of responsibility and to assist in taking forward the stalled peace process once the general election is over," the NEEF said in the statement.