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“This is not the time for gossip mongering and malicious propaganda”

This is in connection with the Tamil and English news bulletin of the SLBC this morning (8 Jan 2005) at 0600. It was reported, quoting Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri as the source person, that the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Intelligence Chief of the organisation are among the dead or reported missing consequent to the Tsunami tidal wave attack.

The LTTE and the Tamil people wish to strongly protest against this mischievous act of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, stooping down to such low level of broadcasting news that are fabricated by interested parties, without recourse to sources that would testify to the truth or otherwise of any ‘speculation’.

At a time of a national catastrophe of this magnitude, it is very much regrettable that a responsible media of the government takes upon itself the job of spreading rumours and speculation that tend to create confusion in the minds of the people. Humanitarian relief operation that is dictated by the tragic situation, to which the people have been thrown into, necessitates truthfulness notwithstanding, caution, restraint and a high standard of media ethics, in reporting.

The government has a moral responsibility to ensure that its media exercise extra caution in broadcasting news material that tend to create tension and confusion, especially at a time the people are in distress consequent to the natural disaster. This is not the time for gossip mongering and malicious propaganda.

08 January 2005

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