On 9 April 1996, the Sri Lankan government temporarily withdrew the news broadcasting licence issued to two private radio stations following the broadcast of an incorrect news report by one of the stations. “Sirasa-FM”, the Sinhala-language station of the Colombo-based Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Network, announced in one of its news bulletins that the government […]
On 9 April 1996, the Sri Lankan government temporarily withdrew
the news broadcasting licence issued to two private radio
stations following the broadcast of an incorrect news report by
one of the stations. “Sirasa-FM”, the Sinhala-language station of
the Colombo-based Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)
Network, announced in one of its news bulletins that the
government had declared an island-wide curfew, when in fact it
was only the extension of a 4 April nation-wide state of
emergency. The news report caused considerable panic among
sections of the public, but the station corrected the news item
within eight minutes, followed by repeated announcement of the
correction. The suspension of the licence of “Yes-FM”, the
English-language service of the MBC Network, was later lifted,
while “Sirasa-FM”‘s remains in force.
Four journalists from “Sirasa-FM” involved in the incorrect news
item were later questioned by the Criminal Investigation
Department of the police. Two of the journalists, news director
Sugeeswara Senadheera and news editor Ranjith Amerasinghe, were
detained under emergency regulations. They later appeared in
court and were released on Rs 25,000 bail. The police stated that
they would be charged for causing panic and disaffection. For its
part, the MBC Network dismissed the two journalists and disavowed
all responsibility for their actions. As well, the Network did
not provide them with legal assistance.
Meanwhile, on 20 April, the government imposed a total censorship
of all military news in the local media in conjunction with the
launch of a fresh military operation in northern Sri Lanka
against the separatist Tamil Tigers (the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam, LTTE). In September 1995, the government imposed a
similar censorship during a major military operation against the
LTTE in the northern region of Jaffna.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
news of the two radio stations as an infringement of freedom of
expression
dismissal, of Sugeeswara Senadheera and Ranjith Amerasinghe,
urging that all charges against the two be dropped and that they
be allowed to resume their work at “Sirasa-FM”
military news by the media
Appeals To
Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Office of the President
Galle Face
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 44 6657/54 6657
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
