Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse has issued instructions to the Police and relevant Authorities to take action against those media which are carrying news using the names of senior Army officers. Using the names of Senior Army Officers for false political propaganda is illegal, and therefore the media which publish such news are liable to legal action, he had added.
A communiqué issued yesterday (23) by Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara under his signature states, this communique is in pursuance to Defense Secretary’s orders.
Brigadier Nanayakkara‘s communiqué states thus:
Newspapers and websites have been carrying false reports using the names of senior Army officers in service as participating in politics.
Section 20 of the SL Democratic socialist republic gazette extraordinary clearly lays down the punishment that can be meted out under the emergency regulations to those who are engaged in such activities. This section basically stipulates that if any person or persons or media publish news which are aimed at inciting the public against the State or create public resentment against the implementation of the laws, or provokes rebellion against authority, legal action can be taken against all those who are directly and indirectly involved in such provocative activities.
As Army Officers in service cannot take part in politics and are forbidden; using their names for personal political gains and for false propaganda are absolutely unlawful. Hence, the Govt. hereby notifies all those engaged in such unlawful actions to stop the use of the names of Army Officers and publishing of such news forthwith, as it is a punishable offence.
As clear instructions have been given to the Police and other Authorities to strictly enforce the laws immediately under this section already , by the Defense Secretary, offenders are warned to desist from committing such wrongs.
A communiqué issued yesterday (23) by Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara under his signature states, this communique is in pursuance to Defense Secretary’s orders.
Brigadier Nanayakkara‘s communiqué states thus:
Newspapers and websites have been carrying false reports using the names of senior Army officers in service as participating in politics.
Section 20 of the SL Democratic socialist republic gazette extraordinary clearly lays down the punishment that can be meted out under the emergency regulations to those who are engaged in such activities. This section basically stipulates that if any person or persons or media publish news which are aimed at inciting the public against the State or create public resentment against the implementation of the laws, or provokes rebellion against authority, legal action can be taken against all those who are directly and indirectly involved in such provocative activities.
As Army Officers in service cannot take part in politics and are forbidden; using their names for personal political gains and for false propaganda are absolutely unlawful. Hence, the Govt. hereby notifies all those engaged in such unlawful actions to stop the use of the names of Army Officers and publishing of such news forthwith, as it is a punishable offence.
As clear instructions have been given to the Police and other Authorities to strictly enforce the laws immediately under this section already , by the Defense Secretary, offenders are warned to desist from committing such wrongs.
