Silencing the right of expressing ideas in Sri Lanka

The duty of media is conveying what is happening around us in a realistic way including economic, cultural and political facts. When journalists express their ideas freely regarding politics, many parties threat them to avoid their expressions. The right of delivering opinions has been violated due to political powers. There are many ways that the different parties have used to stop journalists even in Sri Lanka.  To avoid writers’ duties in Sri Lanka, they have been assassinated; they have been kid napped and put in to jails for lame fake reasons as the means of silencing their voice.

Firstly, many journalists were assassinated miserably to end their activities. For example, Mr. Lasantha Wickremathunga who was the editor of Sunday Leader newspaper was shot dead in a high security zone where the army soldiers mobilize in Sri Lanka. He was a well-known government critic. In order to stopover his straight forwardness against the government in power, he used his writing and presenting ability. It was a disadvantage for those who govern. Then finally they killed Mr. L. Wickremathunga while he was going to the office from home. That is how relevant parties make steps to stop the upcoming voices against them. Moreover, Mr. Prageeth Eknaligods who was maintaining a news website was missing. People believe that he also has already been murdered. However, no-one has taken steps for their security.

Secondly, the authorities attempt to put their opponents in to jail for fake reasons. In Sri Lanka, there was a presidential election in 2010. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse and General Sarath Fonseka who was the former head of the army competed against each other to be elected as the president. Soon after Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse won the election, he ordered Mr. Sarath Fonseka to implement a military court for bringing unauthorized equipment to the country under his period of office. Currently, he was placed in Welikada jail for being in contradiction of the president. Besides, he lost his seat in the parliament after he was taken to jail. Consequently, no matter who they are, the relevant parties punish them for not obeying them. That is also another mean of silencing opponent ideas.

Finally, those who hold the power use their authority to destroy media stations to prevent revealing the ideas against them. There are many incidents occurred in Sri Lanka in the recent past. For instance, an armed gang has attacked the Siyatha TV station at Colombo with firebombs. The closest reason to the attack was that it is linked to the former opposition presidential candidate Sri Lanka. Furthermore, another gang attacked the office of MTV/MBC in the presence of police officers. However, even the police have not taken any steps alongside to put suspects to the custody though they got proofs of suspects. Sri Lankan authorities use their ultimate power to silence the media which make trouble to them.

In conclusion, there are many ways to silence the media against their right of expressing ideas for the justice. Many journalists have been kidnapped or assassinated. Some are taken in to custody while media stations are destroyed. Still there is a doubt remaining regarding media freedom.