03-29-2004, 11:30 AM
Election commissioner takes over Sri Lanka 's state media ahead of vote
Associated Press, Mon March 29, 2004 05:00 EST . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) The independent election commissioner took control of state-run television and radio Monday in an unprecedented move, following allegations of media bias toward the president's party ahead of Friday's parliamentary elections.Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake put W.D.L. Perera in charge of the state's broadcast media, according to a statement from the commissioner's office. While legal, it was the first time in Sri Lankan history that the election commissioner had made such a move.The announcement came amid an ongoing struggle for political prominence between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her rival, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and just days before parliamentary elections that could help resolve that struggle.In a November power grab, the president took control of the media ministry from the prime minister, and announced snap polls three months later.Since then, Wickremesinghe's party has accused state media of giving favorable coverage to Kumaratunga. While Perera did not specifically accuse state media of backing the president, his move was appeared aimed at ensuring less broadcast bias toward Kumaratunga. ``Letters will be sent out to the state media shortly drawing their attention to ensure unbiased reporting,'' Perera told The Associated Press from his office at the Election Secretariat.Kumaratunga's party meanwhile, has accused the premier of manipulating private stations. Sri Lankan law bars the manipulation of state media for election propaganda.``The media should take a very responsible role and we will be spell out the laws saying this,'' Perera said, adding that private stations will also be reminded of the laws.Kumaratunga ordered the elections more than three years ahead of schedule amid her feud with Wickremesinghe, whom she accuses of being too soft on Tamil Tiger rebels.A cease-fire in Feb. 2002 between the government and the Tigers halted two decades of fighting, which had killed nearly 65,000 people. But a recent split in rebel ranks has raised the prospect of renewed violence. More than 6,000 candidates from 24 political parties and 192 independent groups will be contesting the election, the highest number of candidates ever in this island nation. At stake are 225 seats, 196 of them elected directly and 29 chosen from party lists based on the party's percentage of the vote.
Associated Press, Mon March 29, 2004 05:00 EST . COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) The independent election commissioner took control of state-run television and radio Monday in an unprecedented move, following allegations of media bias toward the president's party ahead of Friday's parliamentary elections.Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake put W.D.L. Perera in charge of the state's broadcast media, according to a statement from the commissioner's office. While legal, it was the first time in Sri Lankan history that the election commissioner had made such a move.The announcement came amid an ongoing struggle for political prominence between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her rival, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and just days before parliamentary elections that could help resolve that struggle.In a November power grab, the president took control of the media ministry from the prime minister, and announced snap polls three months later.Since then, Wickremesinghe's party has accused state media of giving favorable coverage to Kumaratunga. While Perera did not specifically accuse state media of backing the president, his move was appeared aimed at ensuring less broadcast bias toward Kumaratunga. ``Letters will be sent out to the state media shortly drawing their attention to ensure unbiased reporting,'' Perera told The Associated Press from his office at the Election Secretariat.Kumaratunga's party meanwhile, has accused the premier of manipulating private stations. Sri Lankan law bars the manipulation of state media for election propaganda.``The media should take a very responsible role and we will be spell out the laws saying this,'' Perera said, adding that private stations will also be reminded of the laws.Kumaratunga ordered the elections more than three years ahead of schedule amid her feud with Wickremesinghe, whom she accuses of being too soft on Tamil Tiger rebels.A cease-fire in Feb. 2002 between the government and the Tigers halted two decades of fighting, which had killed nearly 65,000 people. But a recent split in rebel ranks has raised the prospect of renewed violence. More than 6,000 candidates from 24 political parties and 192 independent groups will be contesting the election, the highest number of candidates ever in this island nation. At stake are 225 seats, 196 of them elected directly and 29 chosen from party lists based on the party's percentage of the vote.
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