President’s Office refutes RsF on Sunday Observer editor
[Wednesday, October 25, 2006 -10.15 GMT]

The Presidential Secretariat has refuted a statement by Reporters sans Frontieres (RsF) imputing that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was responsible for the recent transfer of the Editor of the Sunday Observer from his post.

The response from the Director, Policy Research & Information Unit of the Presidential Secretariat states that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not been in any way interested in the transfer of the Editor of the Sunday Observer from his post.  It also regrets the failure of RsF to verify the relevant facts about this matter from the President’s Office before its statement was issued.

Below is the full text of the response:

October 20, 2006

M. Vincent Brossel
Asia - Pacific Desk
Reporters Sans Frontières
5 rue Geoffroy Marie
75009 Paris

Dear Mr. Brossel,

 “State newspaper editor fired for criticizing President” 

I refer to the statement by Reporters without Borders (RsF) of Tuesday 17 October 2006 under the heading “State newspaper editor fired for criticising President”, which refers to the transfer of Mr. Rajpal Abeynayake from the post of Editor of the Sunday Observer.

It is noted that this statement, distributed by the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), has sought without reason to bring the President of Sri Lanka into this matter. RsF states: "Instead of sidelining critical editorialists, the president should concentrate on taking measures to resolve the serious crisis sweeping Sri Lanka and to ensure the safety of the media, which have repeatedly been the target of violence."

          I wish to inform you that President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka has not been in any way interested in the transfer of the Editor of the Sunday Observer from his post. This is a matter wholly within the purview of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., the publishers of the Sunday Observer. Any suggestion or imputation that President Rajapaksa was in any way responsible for the transfer of Mr. Abeynayake from his position in the Sunday Observer is wholly unjustified and not borne out by facts. 

          President Rajapaksa does not require gratuitous advice from Reporters without Borders on what requires his concentration in the political developments in Sri Lanka and how he should resolve political issues in this country, including ensuring the safety of the media.

The President and the Government of Sri Lanka is committed to ensuring the freedom and safety of the media in Sri Lanka. Representatives of the Government met with members of the international press freedom mission, referred to in your statement, which recently visited Sri Lanka and had a fruitful exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.

          It is regretted that Reporters without Borders has thought it fit to issue this statement, which refers to the President, without verifying the relevant facts about the matter at issue from this office. This cannot be too much to expect of an organization concerned with safeguarding press freedom

          We look forward to your giving similar publicity to this as to your original statement at issue.

         Thank you.

Lucien Rajakarunanayake
Director
Policy Research and Information Unit
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo

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Last Updated Date: October 25, 2006 -  10.15 GMT