Bond Scam: Ranil Goes Against His Uncle’s Wish

July 8, 2015

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, once a press freedom campaigner, now wants to punish media institutions under the Section 22 of the Parliamentary (Powers and Privilege) Act, is clearly against the Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility.

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

The Colombo Declaration which was signed by the Prime Minister’s own uncle, the chairman of the Newspaper Society,Ranjit Wijewardene along with Uvindu Kurukulasuriya (Free Media Movement), Sanath Balasuriya (Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association), and Sinha Ratnatunga (Editors’ Guild) said; “The provisions in the Constitution seeing out restrictions relating to parliamentary privileges should be removed as this is constitutes an unnecessary privilege conferred on members of parliament and is not reflected in modern standards relating to the right to freedom of speech, expression and information. The Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act (1953) should be returned to its original position and consequent amendments to the Act should be specifically repealed.”

The 100 day programme promised “immediate and long-term measures … to safeguard the independence of media personnel and institutions”, and that the “right to freedom of thought and expression will be strengthened”.

However in a letter addressed to Secretary General of Parliament, the Prime Minister said both former Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) DEW Gunasekera and certain media institutions should be penalised under Section 22, of the Parliamentary (Powers and Privilege) Act for reporting COPE draft report on the alleged bond scam.                                                     Read More