12 January 2010 12:04 pm
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, who had met with polls monitors today, informed them that the competent authority appointed to monitor state media will be withdrawn, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections said.
A former Government Agent Jayampathy Hettiarachchi was named as the nominee for the post but was yet to receive the formal letter of appointment. The law gives the Competent Authority wide ranging powers including supervision and control over programmes. He is also empowered to ensure compliance with certain conditions including accuracy and impartiality in news presented by these media institutions as well as ensuring programmes do not include anything which is against good taste or decency, incite a person to commit a crime or lead to disorder, offend racial or religious susceptibilities or offend public feeling. (YP)