(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: The Free Media Movement wishes to express its concern regarding a decision by the President to order the Public Performances Board to ban the film “The Da Vinci Code”, as reported in the “Daily News” on 25 May 2006. The report goes on to say that […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release:
The Free Media Movement wishes to express its concern regarding a decision by the President to order the Public Performances Board to ban the film “The Da Vinci Code”, as reported in the “Daily News” on 25 May 2006.
The report goes on to say that this move is in response to an appeal by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
In principle, the FMM is opposed to all forms of censorship that restrict the freedom of expression.
Throughout the world, the issue of censorship is one that is extremely contentious. Guidelines to prevent the exposure of children to scenes that may have an adverse impact on their development as well as to prevent the depiction of extreme violence and brutality are present in almost every country. However, these guidelines are almost always implemented through a legal mechanism, such as a Board of Censors or a Public Performance Board, such as we have in Sri Lanka. The existence of such a mechanism provides accountability and also avenues for redress for those who may feel their artistic freedom has been curtailed by the decision to restrict viewing of certain public performances for children.
In this context, a decision by the President to “order” the Public Performances Board, which is mandated by an Act of Parliament to carry out its mandate in reviewing every public performance and in granting certification for universal or restricted performance, to ban any public performance, is a serious challenge to existing legal norms and standards in Sri Lanka.
We urge the President to call on the Public Performances Board to carry out its mandate by reviewing the film The Da Vinci Code” when it is due for screening in Sri Lanka and then take a decision according to the powers vested in it through the Public Performances Act and according to the guidelines it has developed for its effective functioning.
We also urge the President, the Public Performances Board and the general public to understand the principles of freedom of expression that underlie the decisions of the governments of India and Thailand, our closest neighbours, to permit the public screening of the film “The Da Vinci Code” following intense debate and legal and moral arguments.
