Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake today said that certain journalists had accepted bribes from Avant Garde Maritime Services and were trying to defend it, compromising their professional ethics.

Speaking at a media conference today in Colombo, Dissanayake said that while many journalists were keeping to the accepted work ethics, there were others who work for vested interests.

These journalists were employed in both print media and web media, Dissanayake said, adding that he was able to give information on them if necessary.

Speaking on the Avant Garde controversy, he pointed out that certain newspapers were carrying articles which defend the company. Certain websites, while claiming to be against corruption, were defending the Avant Garde Company, he added.

Dissanayake pointed out that many newspapers had defended the company on the day after his recent speech in Parliament regarding the controversy. Except two newspapers, all others reported that Avant Garde was legal, he observed.

If companies like Avant Garde could control media, there is a serious issue which the JVP cannot ignore, Dissanayake said. While the JVP will speak out for media freedom, it will not tolerate such interference by vested interests, he added.