Sri Lanka: Media organizations slam 18th Amendment

JDS
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Several Sri Lankan media organizations have expressed their deep concern about the proposed 18th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution, calling it is a violation of "the freedom of expression on the part of the people and disregarding all the democratic norms." The proposed controversial amendment seeking removal of presidential term limit has sparked widespread protest among many civil society groups even though the cabinet has already given the nod.

The joint statement signed by Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Free Media Movement (FMM), South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA), Journalists against Suppression (JAS) and Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU)has called upon the masses "to seriously consider the proposals for amendments and to assess realistically the harm that they might cause to democracy."

Full text of the statement follows:

"The Alliance of Media expressed its deep concern over the changes that are to be made to the Constitution as the 18th Amendments to the Constitution, violating the freedom of expression on the part of the people and disregarding all the democratic norms.

The accepted norm of bringing up amendments to the Constitution is to make such amendments after being discussed among the masses and arrived at consensus on them. But it is a dangerous trend to make such amendments in the form of an Emergency Bill violating that cardinal principle.

When the country requires a new Constitution to address the challenges faces the nation, the amendments which further concentrate power seriously around one person and dismantling checks and balances on that rule taking an individual nature, would further establish this dangerous trend.

The Alliance of Media urges the masses to seriously consider the proposals for amendments and to assess realistically the harm that they might cause to democracy, good governance and independence of government’s service. It also emphasis to rally against these undemocratic proposals made without peoples’ consent."

© Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka