
With the true face of the current government coming into view at each passing day, vociferous Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has slammed the suppression of media freedom in the country and accused publishers and owners of newspapers of towing the line to suit their political masters.
Cardinal Ranjith made the remarks while speaking at length at a Catholic forum on Saturday.
“Political bias has also crept into the media and by this media organisations are suppressing the truth from reaching the people.
“Those who run or own these media organisations only give thought to serving the interests of their political masters and the truth is held back,” said Cardinal Ranjith.
He is expected to come down hard on the present government that he indirectly supported on promises made to reveal the political masterminds of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings at three Christian churches and two leading tourist hotels in the country on April 21.
“We can recall how during the past regime how the people boycotted and did not read newspapers that were politically partisan.
“We voted for this government to change all that and if nothing changes we will have to think again if the pledges made with regard to media freedom and human rights are not implemented,” said Cardinal Ranjith who also recalled the disappearances and killing of journalists in the past.