Referring to the Health Ministry’s threat to stop advertisements being given to the media if the latter expose the health Ministry fatal blunders , Sisira Vithanage , President of the National forum of Journalists (NFJ ) addressing a Press conference in Colombo  said,“ we are disappointed that this Govt.’s Ministers have become a bunch of jokers”, adding that , it  was rudely embarrassing  to see Ministers  respond laughingly claiming such things do happen , pertaining  to serious health issues where children are dying allegedly due to Health Ministry lapses .

Vithanage urged the Govt. not to pressurize the media with  threats , as it is the duty of the media to report these situations to the public. If Gen. Fonseka is coming to politics , the people have a right to information , and they should definitely be notified of it by the media. An army icon entering politics , whether it  is right or wrong is a different matter altogether. But , the media which publishes that cannot be punished or blamed. It is only performing its duty , he emphasized.