(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 22 June 2006 FMM press release: Government re-introduces state regulation for media Minister for Information Mr. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa announced on 22 June 2006 that cabinet had approved the re-introduction of state-controlled regulation of media in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Press Council will be restored and necessary […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 22 June 2006 FMM press release:
Government re-introduces state regulation for media
Minister for Information Mr. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa announced on 22 June 2006 that cabinet had approved the re-introduction of state-controlled regulation of media in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Press Council will be restored and necessary appointments will be made in the coming days, stated the minister.
All media reform reports and recommendations related to Sri Lanka during the last two decades have flagged the need for re-formulating the Press Council Act. As it stands today, the Press Council Act has penal provisions that are in direct violation of the principles of freedom of expression.
Press Council Law of 1973 prohibits, amongst other things, the publication of cabinet decisions, cabinet documents, as well as information on certain defence and security matters and on certain fiscal measures. Because it makes it an offence for newspapers to publish these issues, it is in effect the imposition of permanent censorship on the media.
In 2002, when the self-regulatory Press Complaints Commission was set up by the Editors’ Guild, the Newspaper Society and the Free Media Movement of Sri Lanka, appointments to the Press Council were halted. Until that time, all appointments to the council were politically motivated.
By restoring the Press Council, the government has taken a step backwards on safeguarding freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.
FMM strongly urges the government to rethink its decision to restore the undemocratic Press Council Act. We advise the government to maintain the existing self-regulatory mechanism, the Press Complains Commission of Sri Lanka, in an effort to strengthen media freedoms in Sri Lanka.
