Transport minister was a left-wing journalist during the UNP Govt.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed a committee to look into maters pertaining to media freedom in Sri Lanka.

Ministers Dalas Alahapperuma, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, Rajitha Senaratne, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Rohitha Abeygunawardene and Faizer Mustapha are the members of the ministerial committee.

'Divert attention'

Minister Alahapperuma, in a press conference in Colombo, denied the committee was a ploy to divert attention over increasing pressure on threats to media.

This is a new approach. I know many of you are suspicious. But we can make use of that suspicion for us to put things in a right order Minister Alahapperuma

“This is a new approach. I know many of you are suspicious. But we can make use of that suspicion for us to put things in a right order,” he said.

The transport minister, a close ally of president Rajapaksa, appealed to the journalists not to dismiss it as just another committee.

An office for the ministerial panel was open in BMICH on Tuesday.

UN urged to intervene

Panel chairman Dr. Sarath Amunugama said Mahinda Chintana, the government’s policy booklet, advocated wider freedom for media.

	Minister Amunugama was a competent authority for media during UNP Govt.

He however admitted that there were questions over how the government implement it.

At least nine journalists were killed in Sri Lanka since President Rajapaksa took over in November 2005.

Many other journalists are threatened and defence columnists and many media outlets are described as ‘traitors’ by defence authorities.

At least four journalists are currently held in custody without charge, under emergency regulations, for over three months.

'Third dangerous country'

International watchdogs have placed Sri Lanka on the third place among the most dangerous countries for journalists.

29 watchdogs from 25 countries urged to UN Secretary General, Ban ki-Moon asking him to persuade Sri Lanka government to withdraw the statements.

Many journalists including SLRC's Lal Hemantha Mawalage and Keith Noyahr were brutally assaulted during this year

Minister Amunugama denied the committee was appointed as a response to the letter by International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) sent to Mr. Moon on Friday.

There is a constant exchange of views, he said, between the government, military and media.

Affirming the independency of media, probing and trying to solve death threats to journalists and getting a recognition for journalists who work on the sovereignty of the motherland are among the six objectives of the ministerial panel.