The Acting Media Minister and Acting Cabinet Spokesperson, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena instructed the media to "put the country first" on Friday.

Citing the recent controversies at Dambulla and over milk, Abeywardena stated that those who had publicised these issues had wanted to bring such issues to an international arena in order to create problems for Sri Lanka.

Abeywardena said,

“The media should give publicity to incidents and they should also mention the fact that such incidents are not doing any good for the country and people. Some people cast aspersions at the state owned television channel for showing the Eelam flag been carried during the UNP May Day rally in Jaffna. But, if a private television channel showed this visual, nobody will point the finger,”

“There is nothing wrong in showing crime stories, such as, the Vilachchiya incident. Can anybody wearing a STF uniform become a STF member. Anybody can wear uniforms. If the incident which took place in Mexico on the World Press Freedom Day, happened in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government would have been subjected to countless attacks by all."

"When a government governs a country, incidents take place here and there from time to time and the government takes action. But the most important fact is the freedom enjoyed by Sri Lankan people to day,”

“Protecting people is the responsibility of the government and the Sri Lankan government is doing its duty”