Colombo Declaration On Media Freedom Signatory Nimal Welgama Blocks Colombo Telegraph

September 3, 2013

Colombo Telegraph remains inaccessible in Sri Lanka using the website’s regular domain, while no authority has accepted responsibility for the illegal censorship.

secretary to the Ministry of Difence and Welgama

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) the country’s largest internet service provider (ISP) continues to block Colombo Telegraph even though persistent denials by the Telecom Regulatory Commission that it had ordered the blocking prompted other ISPs like Dialog to remove the blockade last week.

Interestingly, Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Nimal Welgamawho is a signatory to the Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility. The Declaration signed in October 2008 calls upon the Government to recognise the Internet as an important space for deliberative democracy, and to extend to it, all such policies as would enhance this space for free speech, and to avoid all policies of banning, blocking, or censoring websites without reasonable grounds.

Strength in unity: The revised Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility was signed by Ranjit Wijewardene (Newspaper Society), Uvindu Kurukulasuriya (Free Media Movement), Sanath Balasuriya (Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association), and Sinha Ratnatunga (Editors' Guild). Kumar Nadesan, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Institute was also present.| Sunday Times Photo Caption

In the section “Internet” the Declaration states as follows:

• One of the most significant developments in the last ten years has been the growth of the Internet, which has resulted in the democratization of media and encourage the contribution of non professional journalists in the form of bloggers etc. We acknowledge the contribution of bloggers toward the promotion of free speech and democratic media. We also recognize that bloggers are as susceptible to controls by the state, misuse of their work as traditional print and broadcast media. We take this opportunity to commit our support to responsible bloggers and other new media which is strong and independent.
• We specifically call on the government to recognize the internet as an important space for deliberative democracy, and extend to it, all such policies as would enhance the space of free speech on the Internet, and to avoid all policies of banning, blocking, or censoring websites without reasonable grounds. There is now a convergence between the traditional print media and the internet, with a number of newspapers being accessed through the internet, and we would strongly urge that all the privilege and protections sought in this declaration be extend to the web editions of newspapers. Read More