Sri Lanka Journalists for Global Justice expresses concern over blocking of news website

Sri Lanka Journalists for Global Justice in a statement has expresses deep concern over moves to block websites critical of government leaders.  

“While we condemn mudslinging and gutter journalism, we cannot condone the practice of blocking news websites without a proper inquiry,” it said.

“We recognise the need to regulate web journalism in keeping with international good governance practices, but we view with apprehension moves by the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and telecom service providers to arbitrarily block websites, thereby infringing the people’s fundamental right to information,” SLJGJ said.

“We have witnessed in recent years moves to block websites and banning publications and see this disturbing trend as a forerunner of harassment and intimidation of journalists and as a step towards a totalitarian regime,” said the SLJGJ statement signed by President Jayatileke Silva and Secretary Mahinda Hattaka.