The familiar pre-broadcast warning, “contains scenes of violence that some viewers may find disturbing”, was clearly insufficient for Tuesday’s UK TV documentary about war crimes committed in the final months of Sri Lanka’s civil war. (more…)
Police on Monday (25 April) arrested a journalist working for the independent website, Lanka eNews. Shantha Wijeysooria was arrested at the website’s offices in Colombo for alleged contempt of court. The charges relate to an April 19 article which allegedly defamed the court’s honour by suggesting that it was holding two suspects in custody in contravention of the attorney general’s written order to release them. The paper issued an apology on 22 April.
Sri Lankan newspapers have refused to participate in a police campaign to track down people who have starred in pornographic films. The crackdown is part of a broader crusade against “moral crimes”, including “indecent” advertising on film billboards. The police want newspapers to run mugshots of over 80 people but all the national daily newspapers bar one have refused to print the photographs. Those actors caught face six months in prison and a 90 dollar fine.
Mervyn Silva has resigned as media minister just 13 days after he was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He has been replaced by former defence minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Reporters Sans Frontières claim like Silva, Rambukwella has a reputation for using violence and intimidation to silence journalists.