Media outfits up in arms against insulting remark on murdered journalists by senior Health Ministry official

Six media organizations wrote to a senior official at the Ministry of Health condemning his recent insulting remark about murdered journalists referring to them as those involved in 'third-class activities"

Addressed to Dr Hemantha Herath, Spokesperson of Ministry of Health, the collective media organizations pointed out that with his insulting remark, he has "heaped an unsurmountable insult and disgrace on journalists who sacrificed their lives for their work against injustice suffered by the people and matters that were detrimental to the country.

The media organizations collective consist of the Federation of Media Employees' Trade, Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Tamil Media Alliance and Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association.

"Although justice has not been served for the crimes (murders, disappearances, and attacks) committed against journalists throughout history, we believe that they were deliberate and planned crimes committed to removing them from their activities," the collective letter released to the media said.

The media organizations collectives demanded the Dr Herath apologize to the journalists who have been victims of heinous crimes and now disgraced by his statement and their families that have been deeply hurt as well as to the media community.