Journalists launch campaign to scrap Press Council

(September 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Seven prominent Media organisations working for the protection of the rights journalists today launched a strong campaign calling for the scrapping of the Press Council and ensuring media freedom.

The organizations launched the campaign at the Jaywardene Centre with a large gathering of journalists, politicians, civil right movement activist and trade unionist among others.

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the gathering said that it was time for people to come forward to protect their own rights as suppressing the media would amount to suppressing the rights of the public.

A campaign to obtain signatures to a petition addressed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also launched. The 10 point petition says that the jounrlaists are disturbed by the reactivation of the Press Council.

-Sri Lanka Guardian