A coalition of 25 civil society organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), has appealed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to ensure Sri Lanka adheres to constitutional and international commitments to press freedom and freedom of expression. These rights are protected under the country’s constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sri Lanka is a party.
The organizations commended the National People’s Power coalition for its stated commitment to media freedom and accountability for past crimes against journalists, as outlined in its election manifesto. They called on the government to take concrete steps to uphold these promises, including:
- Investigating Crimes Against Journalists:
- Initiate or reopen transparent investigations into violence against the press, including murders, abductions, and physical attacks during and after Sri Lanka’s civil war, following international standards such as the United Nations’ Minnesota Protocol.
- Expedite and ensure accountability in cases like the 2005 murder of journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram and the 2010 enforced disappearance of journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda.
- Ending Harassment of Journalists:
- Cease harassment and surveillance of journalists, particularly ethnic Tamil reporters.
- Facilitate the withdrawal of criminal cases against journalists filed in retaliation for their work.
- Avoid legal action against journalists for “intimidating public servants.”
- Repealing Repressive Laws:
- Repeal the Online Safety Act, which grants broad censorship powers, and replace it with legislation addressing genuine online harms without infringing on freedom of expression and privacy.
- Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which has been used to target journalists, and address related offenses under existing criminal laws.
- Legal and Institutional Reforms:
- Amend the Parliamentary (Powers and Privileges) Act and the Personal Data Protection Act to prevent overriding the Right to Information Act.
- Establish an independent, self-regulatory media commission to protect press freedom and resolve ethical issues without criminalizing journalists or imposing undue restrictions.
The organizations emphasized that President Dissanayake’s election offers a critical opportunity to demonstrate a genuine commitment to human rights and the rule of law, urging him to take decisive action to protect media freedom and freedom of expression.
The letter was signed by prominent groups, including Access Now, CIVICUS, Reporters Without Borders, and the International Federation of Journalists, among others. They expressed readiness to support the government’s efforts to uphold these fundamental rights, stating that the Sri Lankan people deserve no less.