Image: Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa (c) Shehan Gunasekara
The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) has condemned the Government’s decision to make state-issued identity cards mandatory for journalists, calling it a serious threat to press freedom and an attempt to control the media.
The association was responding to a recent statement made by Minister of Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, who announced that only journalists holding identity cards issued by the Government Information Department would be permitted to attend the weekly Cabinet news briefing.
In a strongly worded statement issued on 30 April, the association said it considered the minister’s remarks to be an official government position and described the move as a deliberate attempt to restrict access to independent journalists and create a pool of “tame” media personnel.
“This is a despicable attempt by the Government to suppress media freedom and replicate the methods of previous regimes,” the association said, adding that the issuance of media accreditation should not be controlled by the State.
“Press freedom cannot coexist with a system that forces journalists to carry Government-sanctioned identification to do their jobs.”
The statement further stressed that journalist accreditation must be handled by an independent body, and not by a ministry, in order to maintain editorial independence and allow reporters to question public officials freely.
The association has called on all stakeholders, including civil society, media organisations, and the general public, to resist what it termed an attempt to “tame journalism and impose State power on the profession”.
The Ministry of Media has yet to respond publicly to the statement or clarify its position on the implementation of the ID requirement.
The Morning.