The Journalists for Rights has condemned the summoning of the Chief Editor of the Aruna newspaper to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over a news report, calling it a step towards media repression.
“It is our view that summoning the Chief Editor of the Aruna newspaper to the Criminal Investigation Department regarding a news story is a repressive measure against the media,” the organisation stated.
Journalists for Rights noted that this is not an isolated incident. They observed that since the current National People’s Power (NPP) government, which pledged to protect media freedom, came into power, its leaders, ministers, and MPs have been filing complaints with the CID regarding various media reports, including those on social media. The organisation views this as an attempt to obstruct free reporting.
The group described the summoning of the Aruna Chief Editor as the next step in this process.
“We stress to the government that in a context where criminal defamation laws have been abolished in Sri Lanka, summoning a news editor to the Criminal Investigation Department is a serious act of media repression,” the statement continued.
The organisation labelled the government’s action as “despicable,” especially since the NPP came to power promising the immediate repeal of the Online Safety Act, which was introduced by the previous government to apply criminal law to social media activists.
Journalists for Rights also highlighted the political nature of the summons, noting it occurred after the Minister of Mass Media and Government Chief Whip, Nalinda Jayatissa, made what they described as a “threatening statement” in Parliament while displaying the news report in question.
“It is unacceptable for a Mass Media Minister to implicitly threaten the freedom of speech and expression instead of standing up for the media,” the group asserted.
The organisation advised that if the Aruna newspaper report was false, the government’s proper course of action would be to issue an immediate clarification and distribute it to all media outlets, including Aruna. They noted that the government appears to have already issued such clarifications, reminding them that this is the “civilised and democratic way” to deal with the media.
They also pointed out that the Leader of the Opposition had made a clarification in Parliament regarding the news item, stating his position with facts that the report had a basis in truth.
Journalists for Rights suggested that if a media report has caused serious prejudice to the government or damaged the reputation of a minister or state institution, the government can seek remedies under civil law, for which there are ample precedents.
The organisation urged the government to revisit the pledges the National People’s Power made regarding freedom of speech, expression, and the media. They called on the administration to withdraw the repressive measure of summoning journalists to the CID over news reports and to commit to safeguarding media freedom.
Statement – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fj9CLBuaA/