Sajith reiterates his opposition to summoning journalists before privileges committee

By Saman Indrajith

Summoning journalists before the parliamentary privileges committee would set a wrong precedent and be a blow against media freedom, Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday.

President called on the Prime Minister and the Leader of the House to refrain from summoning a group of Neth FM journalists before the parliamentary privileges committee.

“I requested you Tuesday not to summon these journalists. I need to know from the Prime Minister the progress with regard to my request. Bringing journalists before the privileges committee would have serious outcomes,” Premadasa said.

Leader of the House Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the Opposition leader was raising the same issue that he had raised on the previous day. “The journalists are summoned before this committee only after an MP raises a privilege issue. We can discuss this matter when the Speaker is back in the country. It is the Speaker who decides who should be summoned on the basis of the privilege issue raised by an MP. We can look into this matter after the Speaker returns.”

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that the Speaker gave the instructions only on the basis of decisions made by others in the government and requested to stop summoning the Neth FM journalists.

Leader of the House: One of those journalists is a friend of mine. I came to know that he too is on the list of those being summoned only after this issue is raised here.

Opposition Leader: You are about to set a wrong precedent. This matter should not be viewed on the terms of friendship with journalists. Look at this matter in terms of media freedom. Summoning journalists before the privilege committee would set a wrong precedent and it is time for you to stop that.