How Valuable A Free Press Is: US Embassy Removes Sison’s Residence Gathering Video

November 25, 2014

SThe US Embassy Colombo, an outspoken critic of Sri Lankan government’s media suppression and advocate of freedom of expression and right to information issues in Sri Lanka has yesterday removed a video from You Tube after Colombo Telegraph published a story based on the video.

Michele J. Sison – US Ambassador

The US propaganda video entitled “Daniel Pearl World Music Days” was uploaded to You Tube and the US Embassy Facebook has been widely circulated over social media.

In the video, a freedom of expression activist and a politbureau member of the NSSP, Dharmasiri Lankapeli, who was also outspoken critic of American imperialism and neoliberalism was seen dancing at the US ambassador Michele J. Sison‘s residence.

Lankapeli, is one of the three key signatories of the recently formed Action Committee for Media Freedom. Two days ago the ACMF issued a statement condemning theSirasa Satana censorship imposed by the government through privately owned cable TV networks.

Uploading the video to the US Embassy Facebook page the embassy said; “U.S. Ambassador Michele J. Sison recently hosted the popular Sri Lankan band Marians at her residence to commemorate Daniel Pearl Music Days 2014. Civil society activists and journalists were among many who attended the event that is observed each year in the month of October. Since 2002 there have been over 11,000 performances in 129 countries to celebrate the theme of ‘Harmony for Humanity’ and pay tribute to the late Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl. As U.S. President Barack Obama has said, ‘The loss of Daniel Pearl was one of those moments that captured the world’s imagination because it reminded us how valuable a free press is.’