"Safeguard the press and journalists"

Movement Against Suppression of Media (MASM) consisting of five media organizations, trade unions and civil organizations participated in the protest held in front of Colombo Fort railway station.

"Freedom of expression is the base of all freedoms" was the theme of the demonstration.

ABC network

President of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SWJA), Sanath Balasuriya, said that the ABC media network has been victimised for following a critical media practice.

There were three abductions and four journalists were imprisoned. Also there were twelve assassinations. Three repressive laws were introduced to control the press Journalists on President Rajapasa's reign

He said that still no investigation has so far proved that the concerned news report ABC carried was true or false.

The Director of the Women and Media, Kumudini Samuel, said that they stand for protecting the freedom of expression.

"There are obstacles to gathering of information at present", she added.

Emphasising the need for trade unions participation in journalists' protest, the trade unionist Saman Ratnapriya said: " to safeguard rights of the working class, there should be media freedom".

Rajapaksa's rule

The journalists' organisations pointed out that within the past two years of President Mahinda Rajapakse's rule five radio channels and a web site has been obstructed.

	Journalists were joined by the trade unionists in the protest

"There were three abductions and four journalists were imprisoned. Also there were twelve assassinations. Three repressive laws were introduced to control the press", they say.

The Convener of the Free Media Movement, Sunanda Deshapriya said that when journalists had to work under fear, the truth will not come out thus depriving the public of their right to freedom of information.

"This protest attended by trade unions and peoples organisations is only a token of strength and in future we are going to organise in a big way to safeguard the press and the journalists’", Deshapriya added.