Political analyst Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri offers a sharp critique, stating that although the government appears deeply irritated by Hiru TV’s critical coverage, it simply does not possess the strength, structure, or operational capacity needed to enforce media repression.
Political analyst Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri has stated that the present National People’s Power led government does not possess the institutional or political capacity to sustain a repressive mechanism against the media.
Speaking on his internet channel, Dr. Dewasiri explained that while governments often feel the need to suppress dissenting voices, the current administration lacks the practical ability to carry out such actions. According to him, repression requires a complex and sustained system, which this government is unable to maintain.
He noted that there has been visible unrest within the government regarding the operations of the Hiru media network, along with a growing desire in recent times to take action against it. Dr. Dewasiri argued that the recent public discourse surrounding media repression has emerged directly from this frustration.
Offering a broader critique of governance, he stressed that the overall strength and administrative capacity of the government remain extremely limited. He emphasized that this weakness extends beyond media control and reflects a deeper structural problem.
“Even if the government wants to maintain a repressive mechanism, they do not have the necessary strength to do so. In general, the capacity of this government is not great. It is absolutely impossible for a government with such low capacity to maintain a complex process like a repressive mechanism,” he said.
