Sri Lanka has slipped down the global rankings for freedom of the press as a result of increased harassment of both local and foreign journalists trying to cover protests and sensitive news stories, as well as attacks on printing and distribution channels for private media and blocks on web content, led to a more constricted space for independent news.
According to the annual index of media freedom, published on Wednesday by the US-based Freedom House, Sri Lanka’s score slipped by another 2 points, from 74 to 76, marking a dramatic decline of 20 points over the last decade.
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Thondamannar / May 1, 2014
Quote; “Sri Lanka Slips Down Global Press Freedom Index”
That guy who floats on Pakayasothy Saravanamuththu’s $$$, Sanjana Haththotuwas vulgar burst on a Tamil Lady with the choicest language normally reserved by the Rajapakshes has FORCED SL TO SLIP DOWN THE GLOBAL PRESS FREEDOM INDEX and moreover has made GOTA look like an angel..
There appears to be no Women’s Rights, Racism, Insuls & Intimidation practiced within the Groundviews or the CPA.
CPA decided to kick him out BUT [Edited out] Saravanamuththu the doctor thinks its an internal issue…..
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm…………. Food for thought.
Prestige of the Groundviews is now equal to the Rajapakshe administration…..
[Edited out] Saravanamuththu’s action on the issue is same as what the Rajapakshes practice………..
One for CPA and another for GOSL and Rajapakshes.
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Professor Shelton Gunaratne / May 1, 2014
The Freedom House index of worldwide press freedom is very much biased in favor of the status quo in the global political and economic structure.
This index looks at press freedom from the Western Enlightenment perspective based on the separation of power of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government. The press was projected as an independent Fourth Estate that would expose the excesses of the other three estates.
Thus, any intrusion of the three branches of government into limiting the territory of the “Fourth Estate” was considered a breach of press freedom. This is the raison d’etre for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that bars the Congress from passing any law abridging “freedom of speech and of the press” and freedom of religion.
In this scenario, the Fourth Estate has unlimited power to pounce on the other three estates bounded only by the rules of the common law. Other than this, the press assumes no duties or responsibilities. In the event, who critiques the performance of the Fourth Estate? Apparently, nobody except some stray academics in journalism and mass communication.
Moreover, this archaic set up of the four estates does not fit the realities of the current Digital Age. Globalization of news dissemination has made a mockery of press restrictions within countries. For example, any attempt by the Rajapakse Ruling Clan to prevent the dissemination of bad news is unlikely to succeed because of news outlets like the CT, which operate from outside the territorial limits of Sri Lanka, are waiting in the wings with a vengeance to reveal such shenanigans.
The Freedom House index is meaningless in a globalized world. Every country, including North Korea, is now open to its environment. The world operates like a system wherein no part can be independent.
Freedom House is aware that its index is highly flawed. Its index fails to consider the impact of the control of the media barons on global news dissemination, the oligopoly of global media chains, etc. Yet, Freedom House continues to spew out its annual garbage for purely ideological reasons.
I am not astonished that CT, the mouthpiece of the putative transnational government of dissident Tamils and other stray elements, has highlighted this meaningless index of press freedom.
Shelton Gunaratne, professor emeritus
Author of “The Dao of the Press: A Humanocentric Theory.”
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Robert.R / May 2, 2014
If you got your emeritus/professorship from a sri lankan university, I wouldn’t boast too much given the state of the faculty.
The VC of Colombo a nice example.
LOL
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2014
Professor Shelton Gunaratne
“For example, any attempt by the Rajapakse Ruling Clan to prevent the dissemination of bad news is unlikely to succeed because of news outlets like the CT, which operate from outside the territorial limits of Sri Lanka, are waiting in the wings with a vengeance to reveal such shenanigans”
Is it good bad or ugly to reveal clan’s shenanigans to the general public?
“I am not astonished that CT, the mouthpiece of the putative transnational government of dissident Tamils and other stray elements, has highlighted this meaningless index of press freedom.”
The above concluding remark does not bode well with the above. I am not sure about what he is trying to say here.
Is he
bashing the clan?
bashing the dissident Tamils?
bashing undefined other stray elements?
bashing the index itself
bashing CT for not being loyal to the state, its rulers, clan, and its cronies?
bashing MR for not being part of global media barons club or oligopoly of global media chains?
bashing people who express their views generally considered contrary to the established norms of the state practices?
bashing CT for publishing another view of media freedom in this island however much flawed is the index?
CT editor
When did you become a mouthpiece of TGTE and other stray elements?
Who are these other stray elements you work for?
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Tamodaya / May 2, 2014
So most earthlings live in countries with bad press freedom index!
No problem.
Only 700 million out of 7 billion live in countries with high press freedom.
What a joke!
How is the press freedom in TGTE run country Tamil Elam by the way?
:))
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Tamodaya / May 2, 2014
Perfect press freedom in Tamil Elam.
Where is Tamil Elam?
In hell!
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