Peace for the World

Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam

Monday, July 15, 2013

Protest Against Intimidating Social and Cultural Activists

GaminiV 410px 13 07 15media freedomMedia Statement of condemning the attempt of ITN (a state media in Sri Lanka) to vilify and disgrace Gamini Viyangoda, a social activist and banning the movie "Flying Fish" directed by Sanjeewa Pushpakumara.
15 July, 2013
Colombo
We the undersigned, who stand for justice and democracy, note with regret and concern the use of State media, especially the Independent Television Network (ITN) that uses its air time to stick labels on and intimidate social and cultural activists who stand for plurality and fair play and for their dissenting views.
It is almost habitual for ITN to vilify and attack dissenting voices and the most recent victim of such irrational, racist and intimidating attacks over ITN in its 07.00 pm Sinhala news bulletin on Sunday 14 July, 2013 was reputed writer, columnist and media activist Gamini Viyangoda. His name had been dragged into the controversy of the suspension of the French Film Festival on 12 Friday 2013 for screening the Sinhala film directed by Sanjeewa Pushpakuamara, "Flying Fish", held at the BMICH. It should be clearly said, the certification for screening provided for this film by the Public Performance Board had been exclusively for this festival and Viyangoda, certainly has no role in it.
Gamini Viyangoda as we know quite well, is a well known public figure, who had always stood for freedom of expression, the rights of the oppressed and for minority rights including power devolution. It is his right to express his convictions and conscience without restrictions.
We believe Gamini Viyangoda's political convictions that we know disagrees with this government, but to disagree is a fundamental right in a democracy, was reason for the ITN to accuse and vilify Viyangoda as a "conspirator" over the screening of the film, "Flying Fish". We stress it is a right of citizens to watch the film and form their own opinion. It can not be the prerogative of the government, to form opinions and thrust them on a society.
We therefore condemn most vehemently the attempt to vilify and disgrace Gamini Viyangoda and demand the ITN tender a public apology for the defaming and threatening media use against Gamini Viyangoda, an independent and a reputed writer and columnist in our public sphere.
Consented to stand with the above statement;
01. Wijeyananda Jayaweera
02. Parakrama Niriella
03. K. W. Janaranjana
04. Kusal Perera
05. Dr. Udan Fernando
06. J. C. Weliamuna
07. Nalaka Gunawardne
08. Melani Manel Perera
09. Liyanage Amarakeerthi
10. Sudharshana Gunawardne
11. Anton Marcus
12. Dr. Sunil Wijesiriwardne
13. Herman Kumara
14. Prasanna Vithanage
15. Dharmasena Pathiraja
16. Dharmasiri Bandaranayake
17. Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne
18. Jayathilaka Kammellaweera
19. Nimalka Fernando
20. Gamini Akmeemana
21. Lionel Bopage
22. Marisa de Silva
23. Saroj Pathirana
24. Upul Wickramasinghe
25. Balachandran Gowtham
26. B. Shanthakumar
27. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
28. Chulani Kodikara
29. Sr. Noel Christine
30. Uvindu Kurukulasuriya
31. Dr. Nishan de Mel
32. Jake Oorloff