The Free Media Movement, a local organisation campaigning for press freedom, has filed a court case against the government’s ban on websites that carried material that was deemed insulting to the government.
A fundamental rights application was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday, saying the blockade breaches people’s rights to information and freedom of expression.
The government blocked websites critical of Sri Lanka from being accessed last month, after calling on all news websites to register with the media ministry.
The websites that are currently blocked include Lankawaynews, the official website of the UNP, Sri Lanka Guardian, Sri Lanka Mirror, TamilNet and Lanka-e-news.
The move prompted strong condemnation by the US embassy in Colombo.
Supreme court sanctions Media Ministry's authoritarianism (03.12.11)
Media Ministry has "full authority" to act against websites (17.11.11)
Free press campaigners condemn Sri Lanka's proposed media regulation (10.11.11)
EU express ‘concern’ over website bans (08.11.11)
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