A group of concerned citizens yesterday organised a media forum on the issue of the use of State media, especially the Independent Television Network (ITN) that uses its air time to stick labels on and intimidate social and cultural activists who stand for plurality and fair play and for their dissenting views. The event was held at the National Library Services Board Auditorium Colombo.
In this video Prof Sarath Wijesuriya, Victor Ivan, Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, Parakrama Niriella and Kusal Perera and Gamini Viyangoda express their views on the matter. ( Video courtesy Samabima)
Related posts;
kap De Silva / July 18, 2013
Million $ question is how far this Govt will go?
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Sumith / July 18, 2013
Hats on.
We need more and more people to stand up against these UPFA government intimidation of people with different views.
The irony is UPFA government getting all the former LTTE leaders to join UPFA while those who have different opinion on UPFA are branded as LTTE supporters.
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Amarasiri / July 22, 2013
Park,
So, the common enemy can be Rajapaksas, the current politicians, the racists and the Current religions bigots of all types, BBS, Wahhabi, the Christian Fundamentalists and the Buddhist thugs.
Need a peoples revolution.
Need an Egalitarian revolution free of Religious and racial Myths.
US Constitution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.[71]
http://www.samabima.com/?p=7068
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Park / July 18, 2013
Sri Lanka is at the cross roads! We will see change coming swiftly. It will not be a “Arab Spring Scenario”. Sri Lankans are educated the Spring of Sri Lanka will be an “intellectual Spring”, supported by the educated masses. We all will be on united Sri Lankans not Sinhala Buddhists, or Tigher Tamils, or Talaban Muslims. We will be SRI LANKANS>
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Ajith Kumara / July 18, 2013
Sumith. There were many springs in last 6 months or so but the real people of this country has defeated them and sent all those so called intellectuals and educated guys who has no contribution to the development of the country to thrash bin of the history.
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Amarasiri / July 22, 2013
Park,
So, the common enemy can be Rajapaksas, the current politicians, the racists and the Current religions bigots of all types, BBS, Wahhabi, the Christian Fundamentalists and the Buddhist thugs.
Need a peoples revolution.
Need an Egalitarian revolution free of Religious and racial Myths.
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London / July 18, 2013
Until Rajapaksa is in power,there can not be pluralism and ethnic reconciliation in Srilanka.
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Jinadasa Samarakkkody / July 18, 2013
Yes, indeed, we need to stand firm against the misuse of media by the Government. This is not just misuse of media, but a criminal act by the ITN to which its chairman and whoever instructed him should be jailed. What is more important is not to let these incidents go unpunished at least when the regime changes. We did nothing to demand an investigation into the incident in which Dr. Ediriweera Sarachhandra was physically abused at the instigation of then UNP government. The responsible hooligans and those who were instigating them were unpunished and continued to serve the Chandrika Bandaranayake regime as well. In each of these cases We should categorically ask from UNP,JVP and SF whether they would assure us an independent inquiry and punish the culprits if and when they come into power. We should record all these events and mobilize ourselves to prevent impunity when opportunity arises.
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Jim softy / July 18, 2013
The name samabima itself says what it’s purposes and objectives are.
So, the henchmen who are talking here should be the same. Church affiliated organizations.
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Sama / July 19, 2013
I ask myself why VIvan cant bring an another book about the current reality of the ruling politics of the country. That could help opening the eyes of millions. The millions that have been abusive by the current regime. His comments to this video I find not good enough for a journalist whose Book on CBK made people across the country believe and consequently, all doors were open to the criminal gangs that are in place pretending as politicians. From top to the bottom, almost 95% of the current administriation are highly abusive.
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Jayantha / July 19, 2013
Where are the so called UPFA Peoples Left parties, Vasu, Dew,Vitharana etc, in this regard.
I truly believe the Jackall Moron Psychopath who is behind the curtain, manupulate everything underhand what is going in the country, and the Maha Eka simply bowing down to this Psycho Master who need to be in Mulleriyawa. He is a cronic case disgusting nutt to our country.
The question is are we going to allow this Psycho nutt case to further allow to control our freedom, liberty and life.
Knowing that they are been cornered by the World after cheating and lying, now seek to get some attention locally by intimidating it’s citizen by imposing unnecessary laws.
We have to praise Mangala Samaraweera who has reached CHOGM SG Sharma on this issue and should voice our grievences collectively like him.
I think it’s time All professionals, trade unions, Private and public sector communities, artists and labour unions, lawyers, doctors and engineers collectively stand together and fight for our Freedom, rights, liberty and justice.
Remember we are fighting with a crazy bunch of uneducated Thug thieves who did not have pennies in their pockets when they came to do Politics, now have become Multi Billion Black money sharks after robbing the country. Now they are swolen with false power and pride.
It’s time to collectively fight for our rights and to take them to International community and courts similar to what Mangala Samaraweera did.
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mahela / July 20, 2013
Thank you CT for the Video Clip.
The Biggest disgrace brought upon our armed forces were done when the War Hero Gen.Sarath Fonseka was jailed and when Kelaniya Govt.Minister’s son hammered the Army Captain and went scott free.
Sri Lanka’s free media personnel, Reporters and Journalists should work out a plan to bring down all our Journalists, reporters and writers who are in Excile abroad during the CHOGM conference. CW should make plans for them to come to Sri Lanka safely during CHOGM.
They need all our help.
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