In a surprising turn of events, journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama was notably excluded from President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s special press conference, held at the Colombo Galle Face Hotel. The press event, recorded earlier today, is set to be broadcast across all major electronic media channels this evening, including National Television, Independent Television, Derana, Swarnavahini, Siyatha, and Sirasa.
Despite earlier confirmations that Hiru TV would participate in the conference, representing Samarawickrama, the channel was reportedly not informed of the time for the event.
Many observers suggest that the omission may have been intentional, as Samarawickrama is known for his tough questioning, which could have made President Ranil Wickremesinghe panic and hence avoid him before this crucial final interview before the presidential election.
This exclusion has now sparked concerns about transparency and media freedom in Sri Lanka, with critics arguing that it appears to be a calculated move By President Ranil Wickremesinghe to avoid scrutiny during a critical time for the government.
While the press conference is expected to address key national issues, the absence of one of the country’s most outspoken journalists of repute, has now raised questions about the true openness and motives behind President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s discussion.
