The Media Organisations Collective today expressed concerns over several remarks made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Walapane on Saturday on media freedom and the conduct of some media institutions. They stated that the President has made a 'warning' to selected media institutions during the speech made at the 'Gama Samaga Pilisandara' at Yombuwalthanna in Walapane, Nuwaraeliya. "The President had stated that some media outlets twist facts and that media freedom does not mean the freedom of media outlet owners. He also said that the country cannot be operated according to those who own media outlets," the Organisation said in a statement. The Organisation stated that they were concerned about these statements. They said that the government may be attempting to target certain media outlets through statements like this. "This instills fear in journalists and makes them question whether there is media freedom. We request the government to create a safe space for media personnel," the Media Organisations Collective stated. The Media Organizations Collective consists of the Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Young Journalists Association, Tamil Media Association and Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association.