News

Policymakers urged to have consultation process on Bills

02 May, 2017

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has called on policymakers to institute a consultation process in the process of drafting the proposed Counter Terrorism and Media Council Bills.

Across the globe, journalists on the front-line?of the fight against corruption are facing persecution. Although Sri Lanka has seen a marginal improvement in our overall global score on the World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Paris based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the country is still ranked 141^st?out of the 180 countries surveyed.

This survey is based on an evaluation of factors including?pluralism, independence of the media, quality of legislative framework and safety of journalists in each country.

TISL says as Sri Lanka celebrates World Press Freedom Day, processes have been initiated to adopt two pieces of legislation, which?if enacted without proper consultations with stakeholders, in this case the media, could be seen as restrictive legislation intended to obstruct the freedom of the press.

TISL has called on policymakers to institute a consultation process with journalists, media institutions and other stakeholders, in the process of drafting the proposed Counter Terrorism and Media Council Bills. (Colombo Gazette)

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