Minister of Parliamentary Reform and Mass Media Gayantha Karunatillake said that he was not aware of the letter sent by his Ministry's Secretary to the media institutions declaring the use of the term 'Joint Opposition' illegal.

It is not the government's policy to threaten or control media, he said yesterday.

This letter shows the private opinion of the Ministry Secretary Nimal Bopage, he added.

However, the letter was sent in a Ministry letterhead.

It said that the government and opposition has been clearly defined and the use of the term 'Joint Opposition' was 'illegal, immoral and professionally unethical.'