10/11/2008
FMM express its shock and disbelief that government authorities shamelessly ordered state controlled TV station SLRC to stop a live TV programme related to freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. On 4th November State controlled SLRC abruptly stopped a live TV discussion on recently imposed Private Television Broadcasting Station Regulations without giving any reasons to the audience.
   more >>
 
 
 
 
8/11/2008
The Sri Lanka Press Institute, Telshan Network Pvt. Limited, Shan Wickremesinghe, Dialogue Television Pvt. Limited and the Federation of Media Employers are among those who have petitioned the Supreme Court against the government gazette of October 10, 2008, enhancing the powers vested in the Media Minister to grant or suspend a licence of a private Television or Media station.
   more >>
 
8/11/2008
Senior Journalist Jeyaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam was crossed examined before Colombo High Court Judge Ms. Deepali Wijesundera in the inquiry to ascertain whether the confession made by him to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) was a voluntarily one or made under pressure and duress.   more >>
 
8/11/2008
The Mt. Lavinia Magistrate Harsha Sethunga yesterday ordered the CID to furnish a report on the telephone used by the journalist Arthur Wamanan in a case filed by Minister Mano Wijeratne.
   more >>
 
8/11/2008
Four more fundamental rights applications were filed by three television stations and Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) challenging the proposed Regulations of Private Television Broadcasting Stations-2007 by the Minister of Mass Media and Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, yesterday.   more >>
 
8/11/2008
Mass Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa has requested media institutions heads to submit their proposals with regard to the proposed regulations announced in the Extraordinary Gazette notification to amend the existing Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation Act.
Minister Yapa said the proposals could be forwarded to the Ministry Secretary within the next two weeks.   more >>
 
8/11/2008
Senior Journalist Jeyaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam testified before Colombo High Court Judge Ms. Deepali Wijesundera in the inquiry to ascertain whether the confession made by him to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) was a voluntarily one or made under pressure and threat.   more >>
 
5/11/2008
Ethnic Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam (C) is escorted to High Court by prison officers in Colombo November 5, 2008. Tissainayagam has been detained since March 7, 2008 under the emergency regulation enforced by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lankan police.REUTERS
   more >>
 
4/11/2008
The letter from the Mahason Balakaya threatening lawyers who appear for terrorists raises many questions which go far beyond the matter of the protection of the individual lawyers who have received such threatening letters. Why is it necessary to deprive a terrorist, alleged or real, representation by lawyers at legal proceedings? An inquiry into that question could take us to many of the complex problems involved in contemporary Sri Lanka.   more >>
 
4/11/2008
COLOMBO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's opposition accused the government on Friday of further crushing media freedom, echoing criticism by press rights groups which had just left the Indian Ocean island nation.   more >>
 
3/11/2008
COLOMBO, Nov 3 (IPS) - Media groups in Sri Lanka, already restricted from covering the war against Tamil rebels in the north, are bracing to challenge new regulations that seek to control television broadcasting and new media.    more >>
 
3/11/2008
COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lanka has the lowest press freedom rating of any democracy and has been the first to use anti-terror laws to prosecute journalists, international rights groups said Friday.   more >>
 
31/10/2008
The UNP backed by the SLMC and the SLFP (M) have declared an agitation campaign against an extraordinary gazette notification which impose strict control on TV stations including tough provisions on cancellation of their license.    more >>
 
31/10/2008
The International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka on its visit between October 25 and 29 found deterioration in the press freedom situation since its last visit in June 2007, marked by a continuation in murders, attacks, abductions, intimidation and harassment of the media. In the recent World Press Freedom Index published by RSF, Sri Lanka has fallen to the lowest press freedom rating of any democratic country worldwide.   more >>
 
31/10/2008
The Minister of Mass Media and Information has on 10th October 2008 promulgated a new set of regulations cited as the Private Television Broadcasting Station Regulations, under powers conferred by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Act, No.6 of 1982. These new regulations seek to regulate all aspects of private television broadcasting, including classification of stations and services; issue, revocation, and duration of licenses; fee structure; territorial coverage; ownership; duties and responsibilities of private television broadcasters; extended powers    more >>
 
 
 
Assassinated Journalist
 
 
 
Archived
   
 
 
International Press Releases and Reports
  Live censorship on government TV station amid criticism of new broadcasting law
8/11/2008
Reporters Without Borders condemns the government pressure that led to the debate programme "Ira Anduru Pata" being cut short as it was being broadcast live on the evening of 4 November on state TV station Rupavahini. It ended a discussion of a new broadcasting law by three guests, including Free Media Movement convener Uvindu Kurukulasuriya.
more >>
 
   
  Statement of the International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka
31/10/2008
The International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka, on its visit between October 25 and 29, found a deterioration in the press freedom situation since its last visit in June 2007, marked by a continuation in murders, attacks, abductions, intimidation and harassment of the media. In the recent World Press Freedom Index published by RSF, Sri Lanka has fallen to the lowest press freedom rating of any democratic country worldwide.
more >>
 
   
  IFJ Joins Sri Lanka International Mission Statement
31/10/2008
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), as part of the third visit of the International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka between October 25 and 29, has joined a statement expressing concern at the deterioration in the situation since the last visit in June 2007.
more >>