(IFJ/IFEX) – In a letter to the managing director of Sumathi Publications, the IFJ has protested the banning of Sumathi employee Buddika Weerasinghe following the publication of an article in the newspaper “Ravaya” in which he was the subject of an interview. According to Sumathi management, Weerasinghe breached his contract by working for another publication, […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – In a letter to the managing director of Sumathi Publications, the IFJ has protested the banning of Sumathi employee Buddika Weerasinghe following the publication of an article in the newspaper “Ravaya” in which he was the subject of an interview.
According to Sumathi management, Weerasinghe breached his contract by working for another publication, although clearly, being the subject of an interview does not constitute working for another publication.
Weerasinghe is an active defender of press freedom. He is the Free Media Movement’s assistant secretary, the Sri Lanka Photo Journalists’ Association’s assistant secretary and a long-time active member of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association.
A representative of the IFJ’s Asia office will be in Colombo in October 2001 and will be following up the case.
The IFJ Asia Office protested to the Managing Director of Sumathi Publications in the following letter:
September 11, 2001
Dear Mr Sumamthipala
The International Federation of Journalists is the world’s largest organisation of journalists, representing about 500,000 journalists in 106 countries around the world.
The IFJ is extremely concerned at the interdiction of photojournalist and Sumathi employee Buddika Weerasinghe following the publication of an article in the newspaper Ravaya, based on an interview with him. We are particularly concerned over any possibility that he might lose his job as a result of these actions.
We understand that the reason given for your action is that Weerasinghe has breached his contract with Sumathi Publishers by working for another publication company.
Clearly, being the subject of an interview does not constitute working for another publication and any suggestion that action should flow from this misguided assumption is a clear breach of the principles of press freedom under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and rights of association under ILO conventions.
We are particularly concerned for two reasons:
First, Buddika Weerasinghe is an active defender of press freedom and is the FMM’s assistant secretary, assistant secretary of the Sri Lanka Photo Journalists’ Association and a long-time active member of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association.
Second, the interview was given in defense of freedom of expression in Sri Lanka to rightly highlight the continuing lack of action.
Sri Lankan journalists and press freedom groups must be free to continue to voice their concern over press freedom violations and their dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in bringing to justice those responsible for the attacks on photojournalists who were covering an opposition demonstration two years ago.
The IFJ urges you to withdraw any further action against Buddika Weerasinghe.
A representative of the Asia office of the IFJ will be in Colombo next month and will be following up this case.
Yours sincerely,
Christopher Warren
President
International Federation of Journalists
Recommended Action
Similar appeals can be sent to:Jagath Sumamthipala
Managing Director, Sumathi Publications
c/o Lakbima newspaper
Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 144 9593 / 94 74 617 931Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
