COLOMBO, Sept 30: The Sri Lankan government is trying to gag the media by giving written instructions to newspapers and television networks calling for ‘responsible reporting’ on defence-related matters, it was alleged on Saturday.

The Free Media Movement (FMM), an organisation which champions the cause of freedom of thought, said in a press release that the defence ministry had circulated a letter among media outlets on Thursday advising them to get reports on defence-related matters ‘clarified and confirmed’ from the government agency concerned.

The FMM called upon the government to retract the advice so that journalists could work in a tension-free atmosphere.

The FMM alleged that the defence ministry issued the circular to control the damage caused by a statement by a Muslim party blaming the army for the killing of 10 Muslims in eastern Sri Lanka on Sept 17.