Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 333 703
Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghae
Prime Minister
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
58 Sri Ernest de SilvaMwatha,
Colombo –7
Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 422073 542929
[email protected]
Dear President and Prime Minister
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation of journalists representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned over media freedom and safety of journalists in your country at this time.
The IFJ understands that the Government has withdrawn the emergency law put in place on 5 November, but remains deeply concerned about respect for the independence of media and the free flow of information in Sri Lanka.
The IFJ is concerned at reports that editors and senior journalists have been replaced at state-owned media since the President assumed the responsibility for the Information Ministry. We believe that this is part of an ongoing pattern and that these actions underline a deep and continuing flaw in Sri Lanka’s state-owned media: that there is no protection from political influence for these media outlets.
We do not level this criticism solely in the current situation: the IFJ has repeatedly criticised the tradition of appointing political supporters of the governing party to editorial posts of state media.
The fact that the heads of the state media units have again now been replaced on the basis of political bias sends an unacceptable message to both the media and the public that these institutions are merely the mouthpieces for whoever assumes power in Sri Lanka.
We are also concerned over the possible political intimidation journalists might face as they report on national politics.
The IFJ stresses the importance of a well-informed public and the fundamental right to information in times like these. It is the role of an independent media to ensure that the general public can make informed decisions that have not been unduly influenced by any party.
The public of Sri Lanka has an absolute right to receive information from the state-owned media free from political influence. We therefore call on the Government if Sri Lanka to withdraw from the editorial process in the state-owned media by establishing a truly independent media commission to oversee these media outlets.
In that same vein, the IFJ calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to remember the vital importance of a free press in building democracy and to ensure the safety of all journalists in Sri Lanka in these uncertain times.
Yours sincerely
Christopher Warren
IFJ President
Recommended Action:
Send appeals to the Government of Sri Lanka
Appeals:
Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President,
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo-1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 333 703
Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghae
Prime Minister
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
58 Sri Ernest de SilvaMwatha,
Colombo –7
Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 422073 542929
[email protected]
Please copy appeals to the IFJ Asia Office at [email protected]
For more information please contact Jacqui Park at the IFJ Asia Office.