Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakim told Parliament yesterday that there was no need to bring in draconian legislation to suppress the media as the journalist fraternity practices self regulation. He jokingly added that there was no immediate need for press council law since there is a white van culture, obviously referring to the abduction of Inter News Journalist Krishni Ifham who was abducted in a white van around 8.30 a.m. near her Wattala residence on Wednesday and left at the Kandy bus stand in the afternoon.

The Government should not depend on legal means to suppress the media.

"All political parties had opposed a government attempt to bring in defamatory laws to suppress the media. The UNP, too, has a responsibility in this regard because they, too, were guilty of suppressing the media", Hakim said.

Referring to the Krishni Ifham abduction and release, Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva denied any government link in the incident. "It is wrong to point fingers at the government. If the SLMC is of the opinion that press council laws should not be enacted because there are white vans, do they espouse violence and extra judicial methods. Is that the stance of the SLMC?" de Silva queried.

Responding to the Minister the SLMC leader said that any form of media could be suppressed but with the latest developments in technology including the internet, anyone can post any story within five minutes. "Why is this reality being ignored?" he asked the House.

UNP Colombo District parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake referred to a news item that appeared in the The Island on Thursday where a Government Minister was quoted as saying that the Opposition had consented to the Press Council law. "It is wrong for the Minister to have said that. The Opposition has never demanded suppressive laws against the media. The media demands the implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and the Government media always attack us," Karunanayake said.

In reply the Leader of the House said that whatever law is implemented, both the State and private media are covered and that would benefit the Opposition, too.