Page 77 - ROHANA_Journal_No_11-2019-ok

Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 11, 2019

What the people were asking was to solve the water problem and to close the
factory. As the police and the political authority did not pay due attention to the

matter a large group of people blocked up the New Kandy Road at Wäliwēriya and

the Colombo-Kandy Road at Bälummahara on 01.08.2013.

While a sub-division of the Army under Brigadier Desapriya Gunawardane was sent
to this locality and all the three parties; the Police the Army and the STF (Special

Task Force) got together and assaulted civilians, shot and killed 3 people and
controlled the mob. This act was disapproved by all the political organizations, but

pro-government organized bodies. Then in order to solve the problem a project to

distribute drinking water was implemented and inquiries were held into killing and
the injured. What the subsequent tests done by combined body of a number of

institutes revealed was that the Ph value in water in the surroundings had not been
changed owing to the filthy water discharged by the factory. In consequence, the

factory won the case. Compensation for the dead and the injured was being
considered.

The incident referred to above is not simple as it seems to be. There were a number
of individuals actively engaged in it. Interference of all of them with the case was

highly complex. What we are discussing here is the contribution of the media. What
follows is a table 2 which shows the nature/structure and portions of broadcasting

time allotted to the incident by those 6 TV channels, during the relevant period.

Television narratives

Table 2: Reports and durations of telecast of 6 TV channels.

Channel Duration News 27.07.2013

Sirasa 3 min.40 News telecast on13.07.2013 referring to
sec. Contamination of drinking water with germs
says that it was reported. People block up
Biyagama - Gampaha Road and make a

70