While claiming that harassment and intimidation on Sri Lankan journalists are continuing, Britain encouraged the government of Sri Lanka to renew its commitment to free expression by protecting journalists and ensuring investigations take place into past crimes.
Issuing a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day, which falls on May 3, British High Commission in Colombo said, “Many journalists in Sri Lanka work against a similarly difficult backdrop: harassment and intimidation continue. Sri Lanka continues to drop down the World press Freedom Index. Nine journalists were killed between 2000 and 2009 and the families are still awaiting justice in these cases.”
“We live in an age of widespread global change, where prosperity and human rights go hand-in-hand. Values such as democratic freedoms, the rule of law and the freedom of expression are what anchor our societies through this change. The UK firmly believes that we and our partners need to stay true to these values,” the statement said.
“On World Press Freedom Day, we celebrate the right to freedom of expression and renew our commitment to upholding it,” it added.
Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
