Wednesday Jul 22, 2026
Wednesday Jul 22, 2026
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 07:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) yesterday condemned the decision to summon two BBC Sinhala Service journalists before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee, describing the move as media repression and a threat to freedom of expression.
In a statement, the association said BBC producer Ishara Dhanasekara and journalist Sampath Dissanayake had been directed to appear before the committee at 2 p.m. on 23 July following a complaint by MP Lakmali Hemachandra and under instructions from the Speaker.
“This marks yet another dark stain in Sri Lanka’s history of media repression,” the statement said.
The summons relates to BBC Sinhala’s coverage of a meeting of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, which questioned National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) officials over delays in police investigations into allegations of child abuse involving the Atamasthanadhipathi of Anuradhapura Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera.
The SLWJA argued that the Caucus is an informal body without legal authority and that summoning journalists for reporting on its proceedings posed “a serious threat to freedom of speech and media independence.”
The association alleged that the Government was seeking to conceal failures and irregularities by curtailing press freedom and intimidating journalists through the misuse of parliamentary privileges.
The SLWJA called on the Government and parliamentary authorities to immediately withdraw the summons and urged media organisations, civil society groups and the public to oppose what it described as a repressive approach that undermines democracy, transparency and media freedom.
