Veteran journalist and science writer Nalaka Gunawardene stated that the methods 'certain' media used to report the murder of a five-year-old girl in Kotadeniyawa is totally disgusting and unacceptable.

Speaking to Asian Mirror, Gunawardene stressed that most local newspapers and web sites did not care about the feelings of the girl's family, relatives and neighbors when they reported the news about her murder.

Local web sites such as 'Hiru News' and ‘Neth FM' highlighted the fact that her body was 'undressed' when it found by the police.

By using such kind of headlines to market their news items, they are harassing and murdering her again and again, he asserted.

While 'Lankadeepa' Sinhala newspaper also followed a similar line of sensationalizing the story, its English language sister paper 'Daily Mirror' gave priority to the Prime Minister's visit to India, he elaborated.

Similarly, while 'Mawbima' newspaper gave priority to the murder of the little girl its sister paper ‘Ceylon Today', reported the same news in a more respectable manner, Gunawardena said.

"Therefore we cannot think that these things happen under the orders and advices of the owners of media agencies. It must be 'blood thirsty' editors and reporters, who are continuously doing such things," he said.

Moreover Gunawardene recalled the manner in which Sri Lankan media reported the news of the rape and murder of a schoolgirl in Punguditivu, Jaffna. “Even though we criticized certain media practices at the time, the same thing is happening now”, he added.