President Chandrika Kumaratunga wrote to Media Minister Imitiaz Bakeer Markar requesting him to telecast her recent speech at the 19th death anniversary commemoration of the late minister Hector Kobbekaduwa at the Pilimatalawe Madya Maha Vidyalaya last week, an aide to the president said.

The President said that if the minister was of the opinion the speech was too long, it could be shortened. However, the president said that the speech should be edited with the help of a presidential nominee.

The source said that the President wrote to the minister after the state-controlled television channels began carrying parts of her speech in which she vows that she would not die like a kitten while threatening to kill at least 500 opponents. The President expressed the belief that it was not correct to carry only a part of the speech as it would give a wrong idea.

Recently the President successfully sought prime air time over Rupavahini to explain her stance on the crisis triggered by accusations that she was conspiring to overthrow the government. (SF)