President Anura Dissanayake urged to safeguard press freedom
THE MORNING LK NEWS
13 Jan 2025 | BY Lahiru Doloswala
President Anura Dissanayake urged to safeguard press freedom
A coalition of 19 civil society organizations has sent a detailed letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging his administration to uphold press freedom and ensure accountability for crimes against journalists.
The appeal, co-signed by international and local media advocacy groups, outlines recommendations to safeguard media independence and reinforce constitutional rights in Sri Lanka.
The coalition commended the National People’s Power (NPP) Government’s manifesto for pledging to protect media independence and address past violations.
The letter highlighted Sri Lanka’s constitutional and international commitments, calling for decisive action to protect press freedom in a country with a long history of violence against journalists.
Among the key demands were impartial investigations into past attacks on the media, particularly cases from the civil war era.
The murders of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Dharmeratnam Sivaram, and the enforced disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda, were highlighted as critical cases requiring urgent attention.
The coalition called for the adoption of international standards, such as the UN’s Minnesota Protocol, to ensure transparency in these investigations.
The groups also condemned ongoing intimidation of journalists, particularly ethnic Tamil reporters, who continue to face surveillance and restrictions.
The letter appealed for the withdrawal of retaliatory criminal cases against journalists and urged authorities to avoid penalizing reporters for their coverage of public officials.
Controversial laws such as the Online Safety Act (OSA) and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) came under criticism in the letter.
The coalition demanded their repeal, arguing they suppress free expression. Instead, the coalition proposed balanced cybersecurity laws targeting genuine online harms without curbing press freedom.
The letter also called for amendments to the Parliamentary (Powers and Privileges) Act and the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) to ensure greater transparency and protect investigative journalism.
The coalition also recommended the establishment of an independent, self-regulatory media commission to uphold journalistic ethics while protecting reporters from criminal penalties.
“President Dissanayake’s administration has a chance to demonstrate a genuine commitment to democratic principles,” the letter stated, characterizing his election as an opportunity to break Sri Lanka’s legacy of impunity and establish press freedom as a cornerstone of democracy.
The signatories, including organizations like Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, and the International Federation of Journalists, stressed the international scrutiny on Sri Lanka’s media landscape under the new administration.