In a stern address at the NPP May Day rally in Colombo, NPP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake issued a caution to Sri Lankan media entities, asserting that under an NPP government, no Presidential Pardon would be granted to individuals accused of murder, child and women abuse, or corruption.

Dissanayake criticized certain media outlets for allegedly shielding such individuals and urged them to operate independently without succumbing to familial pressures. While acknowledging the media's right to critique politicians, he warned against adopting an antagonistic stance, asserting that while the NPP is open to constructive criticism, it will not tolerate baseless attacks from media institutions solely focused on undermining the party.