The Sri Lanka Press institute (SLPI) “vehemently” condemned the reactivation of the Sri Lanka Press Council by Maithripala Sirisena.
Labelling the new president’s actions as a “threat on media freedom”, the SLPI said,
“President who has not only vowed to uphold media freedom, but to regain lost freedoms and repeatedly said he is the only President who did away with Executive powers, has unilaterally exercised these very powers to re-introduce laws that allow his nominees to jail journalists and publishers.”
The provision which allows for a government appointed Press Council that holds punitive powers, was reactivated by President Sirisena reactivated July 2.
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