Ms. Dulanjalee Premadasa, the sister of opposition leader Mr. Sajith Premadasa, has written a strong letter to the Daily Mirror newspaper in response to the publication of false information about her.
This news was reported by journalist Jamila Hussain,Ms Dulanjalee stated in her letter that journalists should conduct their media activities more professionally.
The Daily Mirror newspaper reported on April 4th that Kabir Hashim, Harsha de Silva, and Iran Wickramaratne, members of the Samagi Jana Balavega Parliament, will join the government as ministers.
Journalist Jamila Hussain had highlight Mrs. Dulanjalee Premadasa in the news.
But that news turned out to be false on the same day and no one joined the government as the newspaper had revealed.
In the morning of that day, Mr. Sajith Premadasa, Harsha de Silva and Mr. Iran Vikraratne had also taken steps to post Twitter messages strongly criticizing the news.
This is not the first time that the Daily Mirror has published false news about politics in this way.
The Daily Mirror newspaper had published such false news on many occasions before.
The Daily Mirror newspaper is owned by the family of Mr. Ruwan Wijayawardena, Deputy Leader of the United National Party and Senior Advisor to the President.
Letter Sent by Ms Dulanjalee
5th April 2023
The Editor – “Daily Mirror”
Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.,
No. 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road,
Colombo 02.
Dear Sir/Ma’am,
Blatantly false and/or defamatory statements published in the Daily Mirror Online Issue dated 4th April 2023
It is with profound disappointment that I refer to an Article published in the Daily Mirror Online Issue dated 4th April 2023, wherein I have been named in connection with a remark and/or statement devoid of any substance and/or premise and/or irrefutable evidence.
The journalist responsible, Jamila Husain, has evidently used my name inconspicuously to fuel outright assumptions and baseless remarks, with complete disregard to my reputation and safety including that of my very own family at a time that the political culture prevalent in the country appears to be volatile.
I vehemently deny any such baseless remarks, accusations and proudly state that my involvement in politics has simply been limited to that of a private citizen of Sri Lanka, exercising their freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.
I come from a family engrained in the political culture of this country and have always adhered to the rule of law. However, I hold no political position in any political party that enables me to act as distastefully as the aforesaid Article portrays me to be, and as such I have no influence over any politician as implicitly and/or explicitly alleged by the aforesaid journalist.
I strongly condemn this level of low journalism exhibited in your journalists by making false accusations against me in order to attract more readers, and consequently your establishment that involves tarnishing the reputation of individuals, while attempting to further your own ulterior political agenda or otherwise, especially with regards to fundamental assumptions and/or mere speculation disguised as ‘news’.
I strongly question the integrity of your establishment for the lack of proof thereof, with regards to the defamatory, false, unethical remarks permitted to be made in the Daily Mirror Online Issue dated 4th April 2023 and subsequently seen circulating on several social media platforms.
In these circumstances, I demand an apology from the journalist concerned – Jamila Husain – and from your establishment namely Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., and a retraction of any remarks involving my name as seen in the Daily Mirror Online Issue dated 4th April 2023.
I further state that if you have a shred of integrity in your profession, you shall issue a formal apology from the journalist concerned and your establishment namely and a retraction of the remarks involving my name and verify the credibility of these defamatory, unethical, false remarks. However, it is evident, given your actions that I may not be able to expect such a level of professionalism from you.
Dulanjalee Premadasa
