Network chairman, general manager receive death threats – FMM

The Free Media Movement (FMM) is deeply concerned about the death threats made against TNL Chairman Shan Wickremesinghe and the network’s general manager, Sudath Jayasundara, by individuals with close connections to and business links with the government and demand that the authorities conduct a proper, in-depth investigation into the incident and bring the culprits to justice.

Wickremesinghe is a respected media professional and is credited with introducing television to Sri Lanka. Subjecting him to death threats and verbal abuse is contemptible and a further indication of the perils faced by people who work in the media, in an environment where media freedom is under serious threat.

Wickremesinghe, in a complaint lodged with the police, has identified a recent programme aired by Isira Radio, exposing the connection between the drop in the share market and the drug mafia in the country, as the most probable reason for the death threats. Isira Radio is part of the TNL network and has earned the respect of the media for frequently debating contentious issues that are of public concern. Subsequent to the airing of the programme, a number of prominent business persons with well-established connections to the government contacted Wickremesinghe and Jayasundara over the phone, criticized the programme and threatened to kill them for airing it.

Given the deteriorating media freedom situation in the country, where notorious politicians, high-profile government officials and various state-sponsored elements have carried out a number of attacks against media personnel and media houses in the past, it is alarming to note that even the private sector institutions and their top officials who have business and other links with the government, have resorted to using terror tactics to keep the media subjugated and docile.

The FMM believes that government attempts to suppress media freedom, and the prevailing culture of impunity where suspects are often given state patronage, has paved the way for situations such as death threats against media personnel by those affiliated with the government. The situation, the FMM believes, has also been exacerbated by the failure or unwillingness of law enforcement officials to properly investigate past attacks against the media or to bring culprits to book.

The FMM condemns the incident and demands that authorities conduct a proper investigation into the incident and ensure that neither Wickremesinghe nor Jayasundara are harmed or subjected to further threats.

For more information:
Free Media Movement
No 96, Kirula Road
Colombo 5
Sri Lanka
fmmsrilanka (@) gmail.com
Phone: +94 115 353 635
Fax: +94 115 335 500
http://freemediasrilanka.wordpress.com/

Censor Board to monitor TV programmes

Damith Wickremasekera
New legislation would be enacted next month to set up a separate Board of Censors to monitor locally produced and imported television programmes, Cultural and Aesthetic Affairs Minister T.B. Ekanayaka said.

The Minister said the draft Bill would be presented to the Cabinet next month and that it was backed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa who had received complaints of substandard programmes being aired. It is a major concern now, the minister said.

He said the move was a result of numerous complaints received from parents and other concerned citizens regarding the poor quality of the programmes, claiming that some of the programmes aired had given rise to a number of social problems.

“Most of these programmes are substandard and target teenagers and young adults. They give young people a wrong message about life,” he said.

The minister added the Board of Censors would consist of eminent persons in various fields and will be similar to the board that scrutinizes films shown in the country

ST

Five media condemns threats to TNL TV/Radio

Five local media organizations have strongly condemned death threats to TNL chairman Shan Wickremesinghe and general manager Sudath Jayasundara

In a statement, they say the threats were made by several individuals with business connections with the government.

The organizations urge authorities to conduct an impartial and extensive investigation and bring the culprits to book.

The most immediate reason for the threats being issued is TNL’s Isira Radio having carried a programme on the collapse of the stock exchange and the drug mafia’s connections to it.

The five media organizations also urge the authorities to ensure the safety of Messrs. Wickremesinghe Jayasundara.

SLM

Fredericka says faces death threats

Editor of ‘The Sunday Leader’ Fredericka Jansz complained to Mirihana Police around 7.30 last night (Oct. 27) that she has been threatened with death.

According to police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana, the complainant says she has received an anonymous letter threatening her with death.

She is the main witness in the ‘white flag’ case, of which the ruling is due on November 18.

Also, she has strongly criticized the government over the killing of presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.
SLM

Shan summoned to CCD

Chairman of Telshan Network (Pvt) Ltd., Shan Wickremesinghe has been summoned by the Colombo Crime Division to obtain a statement, reports say.
 Speaking to ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that he has been informed to arrive at the CCD at 2.00 pm today (Oct. 27) to record a statement over a complaint regarding death threats received.

Reports say that the death threats have been received over comments made on the breakfast show broadcast by the network’s Isira radio channel and TNL TV channel.

‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ further learns that Mr. Wickremesinghe has forwarded a letter to embassies to enlighten them on the prevailing situation.

‘Our Radio and TV channel (TNL, TV and Isira Radio namely) has a very popular breakfast show from 7.00 am which focuses on the daily Newspapers. As you are aware, since recently, there has been several murders and manipulation of the Stock Market by drug mafia and politicians. Since we commented on this, we have been receiving death threats,’ the letter says.

In his letter, Mr. Wickremesinghe adds that he is ‘writing this letter to enlighten…about this situation in Sri Lanka and if the local police does not take any action’.

read the complete letter here SLM

Sri Lanka: Blocking Lanka e News: An Indication of the Regime’s Fear of an Informed Citizenry – NfR

NfR – Net working for rights in Sri Lanka -Exile network for media and human rights in Sri Lanka
Press release/ 27 Oct 2011
NfR Sri Lanka, a network of Sri Lankan journalists and human rights defenders views the blocking of the website of Lanka e News in Sri Lanka as clear sign of the present regime’s fear of an informed citizenry. The site has been blocked by the State owned Telecom, its subsidiary Mobitel and the privately owned Dialog internet service providers. No reason has been given to the management of Lanka e News for this unlawful and anti-democratic blocking of   this website.

The Right to Information is a fundamental right that has to be protected under any circumstances. By blocking Lanka e news the GOSL has violated this fundamental and sacred right of the people of Sri Lanka.

The immediate provocation for blocking this website seems to be its coverage of the killing of the Presidential Adviser Baratha Lashman Premachandra on 8th Oct 2011. He had been shot dead during an election related scuffle between him and Hon. Duminda Silva, a Member of Parliament and an Adviser to the Defence Ministry, who were two opposing politicians of the ruling coalition at the recent Municipal Elections in Colombo.  The latter happens to be a close associate of the all-powerful Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and a brother  of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Lanka e News has been in the forefront, reporting on the alleged underworld connections of Duminda Silva, the complicity of the police in the killing of Premachandra and the subsequent covering up of the investigation into the incident.  The website of Lanka e News published very informative stories on the issues concerned including   interviews with politicians of the ruling party regarding the violent behavior of Duminda Silva.

The scuffle and the  shooting  that took place in broad day light on the day of local government elections has brought to the surface some of the  fault lines of present regime which maintains its power by instilling   fear into its opponents  and practicing  corruption. Leading politicians of the ruling party have directly and indirectly blamed Duminda Silva for various misdeeds such as his dealing in the sale of drugs, gun running and underworld connections while the Defence Secretary openly stood by him.  Politicians of the Opposition also hold Duminda Silva responsible for using violence to break up their peaceful demonstrations. It is also alleged that Duminda Silva had been taking the Defence Secretary around canvassing for support for the Government Party at the election.

NfR views the blocking of Lanka e News as a high handed action intended to inhibit any informed discussion on the killing of  Premachandra, in particular and on  the upsurge of  political  violence and corrupt practices,  in general.

The freedom to access information using the internet has been under pressure in Sri Lanka for years.  Last week the GOSL announced that it has sought advice from the Attorney General on banning web sites which publish false news about the President and the country. This development has to be seen as another step towards silencing dissenting voices in the country and not taken on its face value. In Sri Lanka, State controlled media has become a huge political mechanism which churns out fabricated and slanderous news and stories vilifying all those who oppose the regime.

Meanwhile the head of TNL TV/Radio network Mr. Shan Wikramathunga has made a complaint to the police that a pro-government businessman had threatened him with death over his comments on Duminda Silva and on stock market irregularities.

It has been reported to the NfR that former Lanka e News correspondent Shantha Wijesuriya had been continuously followed and intimidated by police intelligence operatives without any reason.  On 25th Oct 2011 the Free Media Movement accompanied him to make a complaint to the Police regarding this harassment.

While unreservedly condemning the blocking of Lanka e News site by the State,  NfR express its fear that a new round of suppression of the media is in the offing.  NfR calls all democratic forces within and outside Sri Lanka to give wide publicity to this dangerous trend and take whatever steps possible to stop it before it is too late.

Steering Committee, NfR Sri Lanka

Censored website’s editor talks about media control

Reporters Without Borders deplores the action of two Sri Lankan Internet Service Providers in blocking access to the independent news website Lanka-e-News and calls on them to explain themselves. If they are doing it at the government’s behest, they have become accomplices to state censorship. The site has been inaccessible since 18 October.

“This decision by Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) and Dialog Axiata PLC to block the Lanka-e-News site reflects the increase in censorship in Sri Lanka,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We urge these ISPs not to discriminate against news sites that are critical of the government and to restore access to Lanka-e-News. The government must also stop pressuring ISPs and guarantee their independence.”

The hounding of Lanka-e-News has intensified this year. An arson attack on its headquarters in the Colombo suburb of Malabe in the early hours of 31 January gutted most of the building including the rooms housing its computers and library and forced it to suspend all activities.

The Lanka-e-News political journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda is meanwhile still missing. He disappeared on 24 January 2010 (See the support campaign).

Several other sites, including the Sri Lanka Guardian, are permanently blocked. Groundviews and its partner site Vikalpa were temporarily blocked on 20 June, like the Transparency International site.

Lanka-e-News editor Sandaruwan Senadheera, who fled into exile a year ago, has been interviewed by Reporters Without Borders about the current state of media freedom and freedom of information in Sri Lanka:

RWB : Why is Lanka-e-News (LeN) so important, what makes it different from other websites in Sri Lanka?

SS : The media are under a lot of pressure at the moment in Sri Lanka. All electronic media require an annually renewable government license, so it’s as if the media were under the government’s control. It’s at a time like this that LeN is most important to the people in Sri Lanka. LeN was the first Sinhalese online media and we were the first to use the Sinhala language correctly in html. One of the main differences is that, unlike other websites in Sri Lanka, LeN is subject to zero influence from the government or any other political bodies.

Why are the media not free? Can you give examples?

The Rajapakse regime has been more hostile to journalists than any other government since independence in 1948. It is involved in a lot of corruption and it abuses its power to ensure that the word does not get out about its corruption. In the latest example, the chairman of the television channel TNL, Shaan Wickramasinghe, received death threats because he revealed the government’s corrupt involvement in the Sri Lankan share market.

Have there been any changes since the official end of the war in 2009?

There has been a change. Media freedom has gone from bad to worse. The biggest exodus of journalists has been since the end of the war.

Since the torching and closure of LeN’s office, the number of volunteer journalists and informants has increased dramatically. Before there were only four journalists working openly at LeN but now the numbers have increased tenfold and the number of informants have increased a hundredfold. This proves that Sri Lankans are in dire need of access to truthful information.

What about print media, some, like Uthayan, are still operating, aren’t they?

Right, Uthayan is an independent newspaper but the journalists who work there receive a lot of threats.

What can you tell us about Prageeth Ekneligoda, the LeN cartoonist and journalist?

The media minister at the time of Prageeth’s disappearance, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, personally told LeN that we would receive good news about Prageeth “within a week.” This is clear evidence that the government was involved in his disappearance.

What is needed to improve the situation of press freedom in Sri Lanka?

I think that the Constitution’s cancelled 17th amendment [envisaging the creation of an independent electoral commission to guarantee electoral transparency] needs to be reintroduced not only to bring back press freedom but also for democracy, law and order, and justice in Sri Lanka. The international community needs to exert greater pressure than just stopping [Sri Lanka’s benefits under the Generalised System of Preferences Plus]. In fact the international community has a big responsibility in this aspect.
RSF

The Complaint made to Police on Saturday 22nd Oct 2011 @ about 11.00 am by Shan Wickramasinghe .

I, Shanthilal Nilkanth Wickremesinghe aged 63 Sinhala Buddhist, Chairman – TNL TV residing at Dampe, Piliyandala.

I wish to state me and my Director / General Manager Mr. Sudath Jayasundara has been conducting “Puwathpath Sirasthala” program on Isira Radio for the past few years. This is a live program which discusses the current affairs published in daily newspapers from 7:00am onwards. During the past weeks we discussed about the collapse of the Stock Market which has been the best among South Asian countries. At the same time we were compelled to discuss the issue regarding the collapse of the Drug Market and its mafia. Several Newspapers said that the stock market was related to the drug mafia where the money is circulated and both had a significant drop due to drugs. The Stock Market has also being unable to recover and has caused this to financial collapse.

Thereafter. Last Friday (21st ) we discussed the meeting held at a Five star Hotel about the Stock Market and the involvement of Duminda Silva, M.P. and Dilith Jayaweera and the manipulation of the market. Mr. Jayaweera has also been under investigations regarding the Stock exchange. Thereafter, Mr. Sudath Jayasundara received a call from Dilith Jayaweerain the morning in a threatening manner. I too received a call in the morning from Mr. Madhava Perera, CEO of Power House Company belonging to Mr. Dilith Jayaweera regarding this matter and why we called him “ Kudukaaraya” ? At around 1:00pm I got a call which showed it has originated from abroad. However, I cut the line off as it was an unknown party and I do not get foreign calls at that time. Thereafter, until 2:00am next morning I got more than 25 calls from the same number. That evening my daughter, who is in Italy phoned me and said that Mrs. Waruni Fernando (nee Amunugama) has threatened me and Mr. Sudath Jayasundara and that if we continue this program we will not see the day light and requested her to stop it. There were several calls from Waruni Amunugama to my Sister in Colombo, saying that she is going to sue us and had said some nasty things.

Therefore, I wish to make a statement for future reference.

The receipt by the Police-Reference no: 19f966c837V550255354.
LNW

Blocking of Sri Lanka News Portal Continues a Record of Victimisation – IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Sri Lankan affiliates in condemning the continued blocking of the news portal Lanka-e-News by internet service providers in Sri Lanka since October 18.

According to information received from IFJ affiliate the Free Media Movement (FMM), two major internet service providers in Sri Lanka, the government-owned Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) and the privately owned Dialog Axiata PLC, have blocked access to the website. A smaller service provider Mobitel, which is partly owned by ST, has also reportedly started blocking the website.

The website continues to be available through relatively smaller internet service providers in Sri Lanka and is fully accessible from abroad.

The FMM has in a statement put this latest act of suppressing access to the news portal in a clear sequence of vindictive actions by the Government of Sri Lanka or political agents acting on its behalf. This is a sequence that includes the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda, a cartoonist and columnist for Lanka-e-News in January 2010, the torching of its office premises in January 2011 and the arrest of its news editor in April.

The website has since then been operating from a location outside Sri Lanka.

According to an explanation posted by Lanka-e-News, the decision to block access to the site does not come on judicial or regulatory grounds. The Sri Lanka Telecom Regulatory Commission (SLTRC) has said that it is not in any way responsible for blocking the website, and no judicial body has been reported to have requested an injunction against it.

The FMM reports that similar arbitrary actions have in the past been taken against two other news portals, LankaNewsWeb and the Sri Lanka Guardian. Award-winning citizen journalism website Groundviews, and its Sinhala-language counterpart Vikalpa were temporarily blocked by SLT on June 20.

“The IFJ fully supports our Sri Lankan affiliates’ mobilisation of public opinion against this vindictive action, which effectively denies Sri Lankans access to an important source of information,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“The Government of Sri Lanka and agencies such as the SLTRC must investigate and clarify the role of state authorities in the blockage of Lanka-e-News as a matter of priority.”

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

Advice sought to ban anti-govt. websites

Media ministry secretary W.B. Ganegala has sought the attorney general’s advice to act against websites that publish news detrimental to Sri Lanka and the government.

Mr. Ganegala has told Hiru FM radio that these websites had published falsehoods against the country and the president in the past.

Meanwhile, SLCERT says it is receiving complaints on a daily basis against websites operating from overseas against Sri Lanka.

Its senior IT engineer Rohana Palliyaguru said they could only block local access to these websites.

There are alternative methods such as to access even blocked websites, such as Tamilnet, he added.
SLM