Sri Lanka media group protests against suspension of TV channel

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s journalists’ association has condemned the telecome regulator’s decision to suspend a privately-owned TV channel, saying the incident has exposed the free media policy of the government.

Telshan Networks Ltd, the television network owned by the family of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, was suspended by the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC) on June 5, accusing its its owners of defaulting on licence fees. The move worsened a power struggle in the fractious ruling coalition.

President Maithripala Sirisena in February had asked Wickremesinghe to step down and had even backed a motion of no trust against the premier. He has been publicly critical of Wickremesinghe and his United National Party.

The Working Journalists’ Association said the incident had exposed the free media policy of the current government and stressed the need to free the TRC of political influence in making decisions.

However, the government denied any politics in the decision. “There was no politics in it. It was an independent decision taken by the TRC,” government spokesman and minister Rajitha Senaratne told reporters.