(FMM/IFEX) – Please note, in the previous version of this alert the title mentioned that five journalists were charged with contempt of court, however only three journalists were actually charged. The IFEX Clearing House apologises for the error. The following is a 7 June 2006 FMM press release: The Free Media Movement welcomes the 7 […]
(FMM/IFEX) – Please note, in the previous version of this alert the title mentioned that five journalists were charged with contempt of court, however only three journalists were actually charged. The IFEX Clearing House apologises for the error.
The following is a 7 June 2006 FMM press release:
The Free Media Movement welcomes the 7 June 2006 Supreme Court decision to terminate the proceedings in five contempt of court charges against the editor-in-chief of “The Sunday Leader”, Lasantha Wickrematunge, and two of its journalists, Amantha Perera and Frederica Jansz.
Contempt of court charges were filed against the journalists following a reference by the Permanent Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption that a series of articles relating to the commission, published in the newspaper, were in contempt of the commission and thereby in contempt of the Supreme Court.
Counsel for the journalists had argued in court that the Bribery Commission had not followed the rules of natural justice before making the reference to the Supreme Court and therefore the charges could not be maintained.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising of Chief Justice Sarath Silva and Justices Nihal Jayasinghe and Shiraee Thilakawardena, accordingly terminated the proceedings in the five contempt of court cases on 7 June.
The Supreme Court also referred the matter back to the Bribery Commission for the new commissioners to review the reference in terms of the law.
While the Free Media Movement welcomes the Supreme Court decision, it also urges the Bribery Commission to support journalists to freely express their views and expose corruption, without the threat of contempt charges hanging over them like the sword of Damocles.
