Both Govt. and opposition MPs say Laws designed to control media should not be enacted

• Different methods should be followed if clarifications are needed

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Laws that are being designed to control the media should not be enacted, both government and the opposition MPs stressed in Parliament yesterday.   

 Government MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa who was speaking during the committee stage debate in the House said no laws should be brought in to control media and social media while different methods should be followed if clarifications are needed on news that are published in media.   

“We saw media personnel being summoned to CID over some reports published in some newspapers. This should not be the case. The police should be advised to visit media institutions if any clarification is needed on news items,” he said. 

 
SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar also condemned the summoning of Lankadeepa Editor Siri Ranasinghe and Prabath Sahabandu before CID recently. “These reputed journalists’ are the ones who have not worked for any politician,” he said.   

He said Sri Lanka is among the worst countries when it comes to the media freedom index published by Freedom House. Sri Lanka is ranked 56 of the worst 100 nations.   

“Government should not go ahead with the enacting of new laws that are being designed to control the media and with the Sri Lanka Press Institute Amendment Bill,” he said. 

• Sri Lanka is among the worst countries when it comes to the media freedom index published by Freedom House. Sri Lanka is ranked 56 of the worst 100 nations