Oct 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) backed by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the Peoples faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party are to launch a political campaign against the gazette notification issued by Media Minister introducing a new license system for the private television stations.

Speaking at a special media briefing held at the Cambridge Terrace this morning Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe said the government is bringing in legislation as it is unable to control the TV channels.

He pointed out that trying to muzzle the media without a two-thirds majority in the parliament or a referendum was unjustifiable.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said at the briefing that this is the government's another attempt to cut down the media freedom which is a violation of the provisions in the Constitution. The joint campaign hopes to take the proposed legislation to courts with immediate effect.