Newspaper Society condemns military role at Lake House
The Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka has condemned the alleged role of the military in the takeover of the Lake House Group by a new management following the President's takeover of the Mass Communications Ministry.

"Any military intrusion in a civil institution is unwarranted and should not be condoned," the NSSL said in a statement, expressing concern over the developments at the Associated News Papers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House) and the replacement of its chairman and working director in the background of the current political crisis.
The Newspaper Society, representing the major newspaper groups in the country, in the statement said:

"While there are conflicting reports on whether armed soldiers assisted in the takeover or not, the NSSL cannot accept the methodology adopted if soldiers had indeed been present.

"Given that this country is rejoining the global community with peace and democracy as the cornerstone of a developing nation, it is untenable that the military should assist in civil matters of institutional management.

"While it is understandable that the police may be present at the time of takeover to prevent any anticipated protest of such action, military presence should not be condoned, since this could be assumed to be tantamount to aggression.

"Sri Lanka is a democracy and any action precipitated by Presidential or Government decree should be resolved and implemented without force or authoritarian measures as alleged to have been resorted to in this instance. Therefore this Society resolves that any military intrusion in a civil institution is unwarranted and should not be condoned."

Back to Top

Back to News

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.