"Joint opposition" is a wrong introductory phase - Government cautions
Secretary of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Ministry, Attorney at law, Nimal Bopage in a media release today said that there were reports of some media organizations and journalists engaging in what he called ‘illegal and unscrupulous use’ of media to sponsor a section of the M.Ps belonging
to one main Governing party, who call themselves the ‘Joint Opposition’.He warned the journalists that such misuse could make them legally liable.
“The Government and the Opposition of contemporary Parliament had been clearly characterized today. In this circumstances, I have received reports that some media institutions and journalists are promoting a collective called ‘Joint Opposition’, created arbitrarily by several M.Ps without the contribution of neither the Opposition Leader nor the Chief Opposition Whip.
“Reports say the Joint Opposition is engaged in an organized political propaganda and some media aiding the promotion of it without any thoughtfulness,” Bopage said in the media release.
He said even the Speaker had pointed out the fault in the concept of Joint Opposition and said the professional integrity of the experienced, reputed and mature journalists, would be severely damaged by such media exploitation.
“Misuse of media in this manner sets bad and illegal precedent and journalists could be legally liable. Various persons would attempt to accomplish their narrow gains through misuse of media in the future. Therefore, I request journalists to follow their conscience to put an end to media misuse and to preserve thriving media freedom,” he said.
Nimal Bopage went on to note that the Good Governance Government was able to improve media freedom within a short span of time.