RSF is "worried by the increase in direct and indirect censorship in Sri Lanka"

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has accused the government of increasingly censoring international and local media.

It the statement the organisation has 'deplored' the recent incidents of jamming sections of BBC Sinhala and Tamil language services.

Gen Fonseka's remarks

The SLBC has jammed a report on protests in Tamil Nadu against remarks made by army commander, Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka.

In an interview with state run Sunday Observer, Gen Fonseka has described the politicians in Tamil Nadu as 'jokers'.

We think it is important for the BBC to remind the Sri Lankan authorities of the broadcast contract between them. These cases of censorship are a deliberate violation of the commercial rules RSF statement

The SLBC has jammed the radio reports on protests by the Tamil Nadu politicians, in which President Mahinda Rajapaksa was urged to personally apologise for army chief's remarks.

The SLBC has earlier jammed BBC radio programmes on 27 November when it broadcast reports on the annual speech of the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

A press conference by representatives of the Defence Watch was also rendered inaudible by the SLBC on that day.

"We think it is important for the BBC to remind the Sri Lankan authorities of the broadcast contract between them. These cases of censorship are a deliberate violation of the commercial rules," the RSF said in a statement on Friday.

Sunday Leader

The watchdog has protested attacks on BBC Sinhala service by Sri Lanka Defence ministry.

In a report published on Thursday, the ministry's website has described BBC Sandeshaya reports as 'diabolical lies'.

	TN protesters demanded President Rajapaksa personally apologised for Gen Fonseka's remarks

The RSF has also raised concerns over banning Sunday Leader English weekly making any reference to defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the younger brother of President Rajapaksa.

After considering a petition by the defence secretary, a court in Colombo issued a temporary order against Sunday Leader making any reference to him.

Mr. Rajapaksa is demanding one billion rupees (7 million euros) in damages from the Leader Publications for publishing "slanderous" reports about him.