Some of the news items published through these media programmes indirectly gave the impression that this has been done on an order from the top and engineered by the government.

The Media and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Secretary said the government had no connection whatsoever with this change effected by Swarnavahini on its own volition.

It is their (government's) belief that this was a decision taken by Swarnavahini itself.

While it is not the government policy to influence or pressurise any media institution in their decisions regarding media programs, the government is committed to the policy of safeguarding media freedom to the utmost.

Media and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gayantha Karunatilleke has emphasised that this policy applied equally to both private and state media, the release stated.