PPPR criticises state media institutions

State media institutions have come under heavy criticism by the Programme for Protection of Public Resources (PPPR) alleging these institutions have 'thoroughly' misused state resources.

The PPPR says all state media institutions without exception have been utilised for propaganda activities of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

News bulletins, current affairs programmes and a large number of adhoc programmes of the SLBC, SLRC and ITN were designed to promote the UPFA and its candidates whilst being critical of its main political rivals, the PPPR says in a statement.

It is further reported that the Elections Commissioner's media guidelines to ensure free and fair elections were ignored and even challenged by these state media institutions.

"These institutions even ignored certain directions of the competent authority appointed by the elections commissioner under the 17th Amendment to the Constitution," the PPPR said.

It says that PPPR regrets to note that the managements of these state media institutions have failed to understand that the state media does not belong to political parties and its candidates.

"Their conduct was totally unacceptable from all standards known to any civilised democracy. Instead of complying with the elections commissioner's guidelines and without any valid and legitimate reasons, they permitted partisan propaganda activities," it added.

"The PPPR is still in the process of verifying some of the information received and it is premature to make a comparative study with the last general election. A general decrease in the misuse of state buildings and vehicles has been observed. Politicians have not shown a genuine interest to protect public resources but public condemnation of the abuse of these resources is phenomenal. Therefore all parties and stakeholders must address this issue seriously and consider long term reforms," the PPPR said in its statement.

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