|
|
 |
 |
|||
Director of Information and Competent Authority Ariya Rubasinghe has issued a set of guide-lines described as seeking to further relax the on-going censorship of the media. This follows the meeting he held with representatives of the media on July 4. Material connected with national security and public interest. (a) Competent Authority must be satisfied that the material would pose a substantial threat and prejudice to national security. Mere advertence to issues that deal with the security situations may not warrant censorship unless the content is such that it must result in national security being endangered. (b) The Competent Authority must be of the opinion that the publication or transmission of the material was calculated to cause prejudice to national security. Material connected with preservation of public order. In decisions and opinions dealing with the preservation of public order, the Competent Authority must be satisfied and must form a reasonable opinion that the material is of such a serious nature that it would per se bring about a substantial disruption to public order. This, however, would not extend to material which would fall short of such a disruption of public order, mutiny, riot or civil commotion. (c) These regulations do not contemplate material that would fall outside the ambit of the above but published or transmitted merely to keep the public informed of the current situation including the security situation and matters, which would give rise to public debate. Material connected with supplies and services essential to the life of the community. The supplies and services are also necessary to be identified as essential to the life of the community. This regulation foresees disruption to supplies and services that are so essential that those would threaten the life of the community. In this instance, the phrase “life of the community” must be interpreted to mean as those supplies and services that are essential and fundamental to the community and would not include each and every service and supply that would be necessary in the ordinary course. Material that would encourage persons to commit breach of any law or incite or encourage persons to mutiny, riot or civil commotion. The Competent Authority must be satisfied and form an opinion that the relevant material encourage persons to commit breaches of any law and that breach would result in prejudice being caused to maintenance of public order or both these conditions, i.e. a breach of the law would be committed and such breach would result in prejudice being caused to the maintenance of public order or supplies and services essential to the life of the community. With regard to the inciting or encouraging persons to mutiny, riot or civil commotion, the Competent Authority will consider the nature of the material and the likely impact it could have on the community at large and armed forces in the country. Military operations past or future, official conduct of the security personnel in preservation of National Security, procurement and placements of weapons and military equipment and deployment of troops, with regard to the above and media may follow the official statements, releases issued by the relevant organisations. The media also should refrain from reporting any matter that would affect the moral of the Security Forces. The Competent Authority must ensure before making an order that its reasons are recorded.
|
|
Contact Information: Send mail to