News
Summoning journalists to CID blow to media freedom: Opposition Leader
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that a severe blow had been dealt to media freedom by summoning the editors of The Island, “Divaina” and “Lankadeepa” newspapers and several senior journalists attached to those newspapers to the CID.
Premadasa said that the clause 14 (1) of the Constitution clearly spelt out the freedom of expression and no one could threaten the media in a democratic country.
The Global Human Rights Charter, UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the EU Covenant on Human Rights had clearly recognised the freedom of expression and right of expression as a right of all citizens, he said.
The media had a responsibility to expose corruption and no one has the right to summon journalists to the CID and question, threaten them or exert undue pressure on them, he said.
The CID had no right to threaten or summon media personnel when the Right to Information Act was fully enforced or even when it was not, Premadasa pointed out.
The SJB Leader said that such summoning amounted to an insult to the media and a threat to the discharging of their duties.
Such actions would amount to discouraging journalists who exposed corruption and the Opposition strongly opposed such moves, he said.
The continuation of blunders committed in the past or justifying such mistakes were not accepted in a democratic society governed by values and ethics. What should be done was to learn from the past mistakes and follow the correct procedures by not repeating such mistakes, Premadasa said.
“The politics we practise in this country is not something which stifles, threatens or imposes censorship on the media, but a policy which will allow a self- controlled media”, he said.
“It has to be a sustainable policy and should not change under any circumstances. We would join hands with the media in fighting against the threats to the media and the panel of lawyers of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya is prepared to provide the required legal assistance to them”.
Premadasa said they unreservedly condemned and despised the threats against the media.
The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).
The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.
The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.
The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.
President’s Media Division)
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Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Judge Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat this morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
Latest News
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
A discussion to review the further measures that could be taken regarding Sivarasa Anojan, a young Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (21), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussion focused on the measures taken to date concerning Sivaraasa Anojan and the further diplomatic and legal steps that could be pursued. Attention was also given to expediting the necessary further measures that could be taken to secure his release.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to continue the necessary diplomatic engagement with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia and to maintain close and continuous involvement in all further measures concerning the case.
Reaffirming the Government’s continued attention to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, the President also stressed the need for the relevant ministries and institutions to work in close coordination and pursue all possible measures that could be taken in connection with the case.
Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism were also present at the discussion.
(President’s Media Division)
“ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) to be opened tomorrow (22)
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
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Trophy row unlikely to repeat in Japan
Powerful explosions at Syrian army site near Aleppo injure at least four
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