Media groups condemn Budget picture ban

Five media organisations have condemned the move to prevent photo journalists from covering the Budget speech presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday.

The organisations are the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance (SLTJA) and Free Media Movement (FMM)
They said “We express our deep concern and condemn the banning of photo journalists from covering the important Budget speech in Parliament today. Although all media institutions were invited to cover the event, it is regrettable that only photo journalists from State controlled media were allowed to cover the event.

Protesting this arbitrary censorship, all photo journalists boycotted the traditional tea party which follows the presentation of the Budget.“We note that this is the first time non-State photo journalists were not allowed to cover the Budget speech. Our organizations consider this an act of clear censorship, a telling disregard for plural opinion in the media, a blow to independent journalism and an act that grossly discriminates against non-State media.

“Further, we see this as part of a larger effort to control media in Sri Lanka by overt censorship based on the whim and fancy of those in power. This, we note, is in effect the totalitarian control of media that stifles independent journalism and the freedom of expression.

“It is our demand from the Government that all non-State media must be allowed to cover all events that State media is privy to, without fear of censorship or discrimination. Further, we demand that an inquiry be held to ascertain who was responsible for the censorship enacted in Parliament today with remedial steps taken immediately to restore media freedom in Sri Lanka.”