(November 10, 2011) In Sri Lanka the government has come under fire for blocking
five news websites in what media groups and rights activists say is yet another blow
against press freedoms in the country. The five websites, which have been critical
of the government in the past, were blocked earlier this week by the ministry of media
and information which has also decreed that websites carrying any news relating to
Sri Lanka need to be registered with the ministry. The move comes just days after
the US expressed concern over press freedom in Sri Lanka. The government, however,
claims the websites were blocked for insulting and defaming public figures. Media
rights groups called the measure undemocratic and said many press offices are being
closely watched by government agencies. “This is futile and undemocratic as modern
information technology has the capability of getting round this censorship,” said
Sunil Jayasekara, convener of the Free Media Movement in a statement on Monday. “Citizens
have the right to access all information,” he added. Father Sagara Hettiarachchi,
editor of the Catholic weekly Gnanartha Pradeepaya (Wisdom of Light), said the government
action is not acceptable. “It’s a violation of peoples’ right to access information
that affects them,” he said. “The government should be looking at sites which stoke
conflict between religions and ethnic groups,” he added.