When a fish rots

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa mounted the high horse and went for a ride in Parliament yesterday. He read a newspaper group the riot act.

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What irked him beyond measure was a Sinhala newspaper report, which he described as a total fabrication aimed at discrediting the government. The news report said a police clearance certificate could not be obtained at present without a letter from the head of the Civil Security Committee in the police area. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa also said the same in Parliament yesterday. Denying that there was any such requirement, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said he would look into that allegation.

Minister Jayatissa waxed eloquent on media ethics and the people's right to accurate information. He said the media must not publish anything based on unverified information, and faulted the aforesaid newspaper for having published the report at issue without ascertaining the views of the Ministry of Public Security and the Police. He also tore into a television station for having highlighted the news story. Let the newspaper and the television channel concerned engage in thrust and parry with the Media Minister; we intend to focus on the larger picture.