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Media organizations urge not to suppress media using Parliamentary Powers & Privileges law

Published

7 months ago

February 12, 2024

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A collective of several media organizations have stated that there are attempts to suppress media activity using Parliamentary Powers and Privileges law against journalists.

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, the Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, the Tamil Media Alliance, the Sri Lanka Young Journalists’ Association and the South Asian Free Media Association – Sri Lanka Chapter have issued a joint letter directed to the Speaker – Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in this regard.

Noting that they “remain strongly opposed to and condemn any attempts to summon journalists before the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges for fulfilling their journalistic and social responsibility obligations,” the Media Organizations Collective urges the Speaker to “not to contribute to the government’s efforts to suppress the media using the powers and privileges of Parliament.”

“When Parliament met on February 08, Member of Parliament D. Weerasinghe cited an article in the Sunday Lankadeepa newspaper dated January 28, 2024, headlined ‘Supreme Court amendments not in Online Safety Act; Opposition demands meeting of party leaders before Speaker signs it’ as having breached his privileges as a member who voted for the Bill and requested the Speaker to direct the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges to take appropriate action. In response, you had stated the request would be presented to the Committee as a question of privilege,” the collective points out.

“We, as leading media organisations in Sri Lanka who are signatories to this letter, wish to inform you that while alert to the government’s contemptible efforts to use parliamentary powers and privileges to stifle media freedom, unequivocally condemn all attempts to suppress people’s rights to know the truth by intimidating journalists,” they emphasize.

“We, as leading media organizations, question how reporting on demands made by the opposition regarding the Online Safety Act or any other Act, can be deemed a breach of parliamentary privileges of MPs. Our conviction is that the media has tried to report on the fundamental rights violation of the people in the hopes of rectifying it, not questioning the parliamentary powers and privileges of its members. This is the role of the media. This is fulfilling its social responsibility,” the letter says.

“Your decision to refer the matter related to the news report to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges is an unwelcome surprise. However, we take this opportunity to inform you that we are keenly watching the government’s efforts to suppress the media using an obsolete law with no specific provisions for ‘trial and punishment’. Your action is an obstruction to the right of journalists to report freely and also impinges on the right of the public to true and accurate information,” it adds.

The full letter is as follows :

2024.02.09-media-collective-statement-e Download

News

SLADA Chairman Professor Arjuna de Silva Resigns

Published

4 hours ago

September 19, 2024

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Professor Arjuna de Silva, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA), has announced his resignation effective September 30, marking the end of his 13-year tenure.

His departure will also see him stepping down from his duties at Sri Lanka Cricket.

At a media briefing, de Silva stated that his decision to resign was voluntary, with no external pressure involved.

He expressed satisfaction with his achievements, including significant progress in eradicating doping in Sri Lankan sports.

During his tenure, Sri Lanka rose to sixth place in Asia in doping control efforts.

De Silva also pioneered the construction of SLADA’s new headquarters and played a key role in identifying sources of banned substances.

Additionally, SLADA’s collaboration with the International Cricket Council is expected to generate future revenue.

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Sri Lanka reaches in principle agreements for restructuring sovereign debt with external commercial creditors

Published

4 hours ago

September 19, 2024

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On the 19th of September 2024, Sri Lanka announced that it has reached Agreements in Principle on the restructuring of approximately USD$ 17.5 billion of external commercial debt (as of end 2023).

These agreements have been reached with holders of its International Sovereign Bonds, following negotiations with the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders (“AHGB”), a representative group of international investors, and the Local Consortium of Sri Lanka (“LCSL”), a representative group of domestic financial institutions. Collectively, the two groups hold in excess of 50% of the Bonds.

Under the agreements, holders of the Bonds will be consenting to a present value concession of 40.3% in the baseline scenario, calculated with a discount factor of 11%. The agreements provide Sri Lanka with enhanced debt relief compared to the Joint Working Framework agreed in July 2024, including a further reduction in interest payments provided in the new agreement.

Sri Lanka also announced that it has finalized an agreement in principle with China Development Bank (“CDB”) on the key financial terms of the restructuring of approximately US$ 3.3bn of sovereign debt.

As a result of the agreements already achieved with Eximbank of China and members of Sri Lanka’s Official Creditor Committee (“OCC”) as well as CDB and bondholders, Sri Lanka will have obtained over USD 17bn of debt service relief during the IMF program period (around USD 2.4bn from Eximbank of China, USD 2.9bn from the OCC, USD 2.5bn from CDB and USD 9.5bn from the bondholders).

President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his deep appreciation for all of Sri Lanka’s creditors who engaged in good faith throughout this process, and also for the International Monetary Fund and the OCC Secretariat for the continuous and constructive support.

The official announcement

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Around 500 apparel factory workers hospitalized due to food poisoning

Published

11 hours ago

September 19, 2024

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Around 500 workers at a privately owned apparel factory in Bakamoona, Polonnaruwa have been hospitalised over food poisoning, reports say.
According to reports, the employees have fallen ill after consuming food provided by the factory.

However, they are not in critical condition and are being treated at the Bakamoona and Atthanakadawala Hospitals.

(Source : Aruna)