Derana TV has issued a statement regarding the absence of presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa from the ‘Derana Special 360’ program. The network had invited Premadasa to participate in this special series as part of its Samabima policy, which involved seven presidential candidates.
The broadcast of the seven special programs began on September 12, with Premadasa’s participation scheduled for September 17. According to Derana, a secretary handling Premadasa’s diary confirmed the date, and the recording was noted in his schedule. Despite multiple confirmations and the airing of pre-campaign trailers, Premadasa informed Derana on the morning of September 17 that he would not be able to attend.
In response, Derana halted the broadcast of the related trailers and promptly allocated the airtime to another program. Later, Samagi Jana Balavega’s media secretary, Erananda Hettiarachchi, accused Derana of airing pre-campaign materials without approval. Derana’s news director countered this claim, asserting that all procedures were followed.
The national organizer of Samagi Jana Balavega, MP Tissa Attanayake, has announced plans to file a complaint with the Election Commission, seeking an investigation into the incident. Derana has stated its readiness to cooperate with any such inquiry, asserting that Premadasa was well aware of his scheduled appearance. The network also refuted claims of preferential treatment towards any presidential candidate and expressed regret over the controversy.
Derana emphasized its commitment to fairness and transparency and has encouraged comparing its practices with those of other media outlets to assess impartiality.
