The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka and seven other media organizations have opposed the ‘reactivation’ of a 1973 law on regulating the press in the island nation.
Sri Lanka Press Council was set up under the 1973 law. It gave power to authorities to fine and jail journalists and publishers for writings considered to be defamatory or against security of the country. Following outcry, Parliament amended the Sri Lanka Press Council Act and made the Council ‘in operative’ six years back.
The old council was reactivated earlier this month by the government.
Staffed with government appointees, it adjudicates complaints against newspapers and has the power to imprison and fine journalists.
Local news papers in Jaffna continue to find the going tough even after the Wanni War ended. Thousands of copies of Valampuri, Uthayan and Thinakkural (Jaffna edition), were burnt at Aanaippanthi and Kannathiddi junctions on June 25 morning as they were being taken for distribution. These dailies refused to publish an anonymous statement that put the blame for Tamil miseries on LTTE and TNA.
Reports also say Uthayan news paper office in Jaffna was set on fire on the night of June 24 and its owner Saravanabavan who lives in Colombo has been threatened.
