Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma insists that there is no move to curtail the freedom of speech.

Talking to regional correspondents in Trincomalee district, the minister said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government are open to constructive crticism.

The minister pointed out that criticism is important for the progress of a society and that such criticism should be based on concrete evidence and facts and not on speculations and attitudes.

Minister Alahapperuma also said that in a democracy it's important to protect the freedom of speech.