Communist Party Puts ‘Aththa’ On Hold: Read The Censored “Aththa” In Colombo Telegraph

November 7, 2014

This week’s issue of the ‘Aththa’ newspaper published by the Communist Party of Sri Lanka has been held from being released to the markets upon instructions issued by an official holding a top position in the party.

Aththa Editor- Dr. Michael Fernando

Colombo Telegraph learns that this week’s issue (dated 09/11/2014) which was scheduled to be released today has been withheld without being released to the markets despite going into print and its e-copy being uploaded to the newspaper’s website. But the e-paper too has been taken off the site presently.

Colombo Telegraph reliably learns that the party authorities have confiscated all the copies of the printed paper from the press and have locked them within the confines of the Editor’s office that remains sealed presently.

The cause behind these arbitrary actions seems to be stemming from several articles that had been carried in the paper criticizing LSSP leader and senior Minister Dr. Tissa Vitarana. In fact, even this week’s issue that has been withheld had carried an article by LSSP Central Committee member Chameera Perera that referred to a statement that was made by Dr. Vitarana during a Central Committee meeting during which the party came to a decision to support President Rajapaksa at the upcoming election by a vote of 25 against 13.

The Editor of the newspaper Dr. Michael Fernando says he has not been informed so far by the publisher or the Communist Party Secretary official on the reasons that resulted in this course of action that prevented the paper from being released into the markets today as planned.

Read the censored newspaper here