Armed Forces News Only Through Gota

Director General of the Ministry for National Security, Public Security, Law and Order, Lakshman Hulugalle has issued written directions to all media institutions specifying that news concerning armed forces and police are only to be channelled through Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapakse.

 Under this directive, no media is allowed to obtain information of any kind on promotions, transfers or any other movement or opinions from any member of the armed forces and the police, from the Commander downwards.

The directive also empowers only the relevant spokespeople for the armed forces and the police to comment. It adds that if any member of the armed forces must be included in an interview, permission must be sought from Secretary Defence through the Director General.

The directive mentions that certain media institutions have consistently interviewed members of armed forces and allowed them to express opinions that may have had a negative impact on the security situation in the country;  thereby undermining national stability and misguide the public. It further states that any media violating these guidelines will be dealt with severely under the country’s penal code.