The Sri Lankan Defence establishment headed by Gotapaya Rajapaksa is suspicious of the possibility of journalists who covered the northern military operations selling video tapes and photographs to foreign media institutions. Director General, Media Center for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle has requested the Media Minister to hand over all material related to the military operation to the Defence Ministry.
Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa in turn has ordered the state media heads to immediately take charge of all video footage and photographs related to the military operations.
The situation arose following a video related to the war in the north was telecast on UK’s Channel 4. There is now considerable doubt among members of the Defence establishment on whether the Channel 4 received the video through a member of the state media.