(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 26 February 2001 FMM press release: STATE MEDIA PUBLISHES DISTORTED INFORMATION ON INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE (IPI) ANNUAL ASSEMBLY The Free Media movement wishes to express its regret regarding the mud-slinging campaign being carried out by the state media against the FMM. It is especially worrying that this campaign attempts […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 26 February 2001 FMM press release:
STATE MEDIA PUBLISHES DISTORTED INFORMATION ON INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE (IPI) ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
The Free Media movement wishes to express its regret regarding the mud-slinging campaign being carried out by the state media against the FMM. It is especially worrying that this campaign attempts to suppress certain decisions regarding Sri Lanka, which were taken at the annual sessions of the International Press Institute (IPI) held in New Delhi, India, from January 26 to 30 this year.
The Chairman of the state-owned Lake House newspaper company, Mr. Lucien Rajakarunanayake, attended this meeting. Yet, all the state media refrained from mentioning that IPI decided to keep Sri Lanka on its watch list of countries to be monitored during the coming 6 months. Instead, they carried a report that the FMM did not participate in the discussion on Sri Lanka, which took place during the IPI sessions. They also reported that during the sessions the FMM did not raise the issue of the suspended sentences imposed on editors of some Sri Lankan newspapers. The report further stated that when an attempt was made to denigrate Sri Lanka at this meeting, Mr. Rajakarunanayake intervened to prevent such a thing from happening. The FMM in turn issued a press release clarifying that since it was not a member of IPI, it could not participate in that organisation’s annual sessions. However, the state media did not give this press release due publicity. They also did not publish the part of the statement in which the FMM condemned the use of criminal defamation to punish newspaper editors.
The FMM believes that by distorting the proceedings of an IPI world assembly which was attended by leading media personalities from all over the world, and furthermore, by using this opportunity to slander the Sri Lanka organisation FMM, the state media, especially its leadership, stands exposed for its biased reporting. This is yet another example of the slander campaign being carried out by the state against the Sri Lanka media. It is all the more unfortunate because the campaign’s leader was expelled from the FMM after allegations, which were proved beyond doubt, of financial fraud.
Victor Ivan
Convenor
26.02.2001
