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

It resembled just some scenes of war. The other fact of great importance is that the
two state channels refrained from presenting any information obtained from those

who were involved in the incident by visiting the spot where it occurred. They

simply present voice cuts of individuals they need to use as means by which to
prove the justification of the shooting. None of these channels present a scientific

and experimental programme in respect of this incident. The channel Sirasa visits
the locality and presents a documentary of the water crisis of its residents on

29.07.2013. The documentary shows the fact that the water in the area is not suitable

for drinking and certain instances of some deaths and illness caused by the
consumption of the water. The channel Hiru which visited the village Kudumirissa

on 30.07.2013 says that the Ph value of the water in that place is 3.9. This
observation is conducted by Ananda Mädagedera and Bhatiya Attanayake. Both

these reports pay attention to the problem connected with the water. No channel
takes trouble to see whether the factory is or is not responsible for the issue in hand.

If such a study has been done, the incident in question would not have ended up in

the manner referred to above. At every press conference dealt with this incident all
the microphones used bore the signs of all respective television and radio channels

operative in Sri Lanka in front of the speaker who addressed the gathering. Thus, in
all the channels one and the same visuals were in sight. All the events such as the

new Army Commander’s answer he gave addressing the media following his visit to

MahaNayakaTheras in Kandy, and then DIG Western Province Mr. Anura
Senanayake’s address after the assault of the army on protestors, all these things

broadcast by Sirasa, Swarnavāhini, Hiru and Derana were in one and the same
identical manner. So, it is pretty obvious that the media functioned in relating to this

occurrence with the object of creating an attractive narrative. It was only the frame

of the state media which differed from that of others when playing its role in the
process. While the frame of the narrative of the private media created was closer to

truth than that of the state media which was much falser. This crisis which affected
about 1000 people in Gampaha area was not at all an issue of importance to the

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