A private media station has come under fire for erronously reporting a speech made by former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie claiming the latter called for the assassination of SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The audio clip of the speech has made it clear that the former Minister, a senior politician in the SLFP, has urged everyone to defeat Rajapaksa at the Presidential election. A longer version of Fowzie's speech was aired on other television channels last night.

Fowzie has pledged support to NDF candidate Sajith Premadasa at the Presidential election.

Meanwhile, many media activists have requested the Elections Commission to reprimand the channel for erroneously reporting the former Minister's speech.

They stated that such irresponsible reporting could even lead to violence and bloodshed before a crucial national election.