On 14th July, Sirasa News first reported a story about a young man being abducted by a "white van" in Chilaw. They have used the words "abducted" and "white van" deliberately, several times in the story. Sirasa wanted to create an emotional news value to the story, by taking a sensitive interview from the wife and the mother of the "abducted" man. They further reported that, when contacted the Chilaw police station, the police confirmed there were no abduction reported to the police by that time. As in many earlier occasions, Sirasa was making a big fuzz about the incident.
On the following day (15th), government mouthpiece ITN news reported a news story, that a suspected burglar was arrested by Gampaha police after a covert investigation into a gang of robbers who were involved in number of robberies in Gampaha area. The arrested was a resident in Chilaw area.
On Sirasa News First 15th night, they were honest enough to report this story. (That was very good from the part of Sirasa, how ever). According to Sirasa themselves, when they contacted the Chilaw police for the second time, they have confirmed that Gampaha police has arrested the man who was said to be "abducted" earlier. Since it was part of a covert probe into a gang of robbers, Gampaha police couldn't informed the family of the arrested person immediately.
Now this is yet another example of some media stations trying to distort information to publicize the concept of "abductions" and "white vans". Sirasa, without searching for proper evidence jumped to a conclusion that it was an "abduction" by a "white van" which is the popular explanation these days for any missing person. In realty, he was a suspected burglar who we in the "most wanted" list of Gampaha police.
On the following day (15th), government mouthpiece ITN news reported a news story, that a suspected burglar was arrested by Gampaha police after a covert investigation into a gang of robbers who were involved in number of robberies in Gampaha area. The arrested was a resident in Chilaw area.
On Sirasa News First 15th night, they were honest enough to report this story. (That was very good from the part of Sirasa, how ever). According to Sirasa themselves, when they contacted the Chilaw police for the second time, they have confirmed that Gampaha police has arrested the man who was said to be "abducted" earlier. Since it was part of a covert probe into a gang of robbers, Gampaha police couldn't informed the family of the arrested person immediately.
Now this is yet another example of some media stations trying to distort information to publicize the concept of "abductions" and "white vans". Sirasa, without searching for proper evidence jumped to a conclusion that it was an "abduction" by a "white van" which is the popular explanation these days for any missing person. In realty, he was a suspected burglar who we in the "most wanted" list of Gampaha police.
