“Media freedom does not mean freedom of media owners. Certain media owners want to run the country the way they want. I cannot allow that to happen“, said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
President Rajapaksa also said that he has not exerted any influence on the media as the President, and he will not hesitate to take necessary legal actions against such groups, if they attempt to push the country and the people backward, by abusing media freedom for the benefit of various groups and individuals.
The President is of the view that today a group of media persons who had worked against the country during the war has reappeared and through their media institutions are attacking nationalist ideology and programmes.
The President made these remarks participating in the 15th in the series of “Discussion with the Village” programme held yesterday (20) at the Yombuweltenna village in Walapane Divisional Secretariat Division of the Nuwara Eliya District.