Lanka Everything Everything Sri Lankan Web Portal

He said “Secretary Defence has already instructed the Police and the authorities to take necessary action with immediate effect. Hence, publication of such false reports using names of those officers should be stopped forthwith”. The Defence Secretary had given this directive in the backdrop of the government making repeated pleas to secure GSP + benefits, even as the European Commission (EC) report expressed concern over stifling of media freedom in Sri Lanka.

The European Union Commission report states on media freedom: “The emergency legislation has been criticized for stifling media freedom and freedom of expression. ICCPR Article 19 provides for freedom of expression and covers the right not only to impart information and ideas but also to seek and receive them. The right to freedom of expression can be limited for reasons of national security, and could be suspended in a state of emergency, but such restrictions must be strictly required and proportionate to the threat. There must be a direct causal link between the words spoken, or written, and the legitimate security concern. Restrictions cannot be arbitrary, and there must be no other adequate means available”.