By Shamindra Ferdinando

Alleging that a section of the media had thrown their weight behind his predecessor whom he described as an uncompromising and scheming person, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday alleged that the media seemed to be wanting an authoritarian ruler again.

Addressing the proprietors, top management as well as journalists from both public and private media at the President’s House, the President said he was surprised and sorry about the way some media organisations had backed a scheming authoritarian ruler.

He recalled his predecessor lambasting journalists and television presenters over the phone in disparaging manner over the publication or telecast of offending news items.

The President reiterated a spate of allegations regarding attacks allegedly directed against various media organisations during his predecessor’s rule.

The media should decide whether they wanted to represent the interests of him or his predecessor or pursue policies beneficial to the people and the country.

Commenting on the recently held Joint Opposition rally at Hyde Park, President Sirisena alleged that it had been aimed at influencing the judiciary and law enforcement agencies now inquiring into waste, corruption and irregularities under the previous regime. President Maithripala Sirisena said he felt that his predecessor’s intention had been to use the size of the crowd to pressure the judiciary.

Strongly denying claims of an internal dispute in the SLFP, President Maithripala Sirisena endorsed an opinion recently expressed by a journalist that the SLFP had been dominated by the former President, his brothers and their children. Having brought the family rule to an end, the party was now on the correct path, President Sirisena said. The SLFP leader urged the media to represent the interests of the people and the country and not to throw their weight behind corrupt and disruptive elements.

During the last presidential election campaign, the then President had been called a benevolent dictator because he played his role though he ruled the country without consulting the Cabinet and the Central Committee of the SLFP.

The President claimed that he was aware of the plans the former President was to implement if he secured a third term.

Courtesy:The Island