While media freedom—historically seen as one of the pillars of democracy—is crumbling in Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa government is also muscling the social media, including news websites. 

The Professional Web Journalists’ Association last week filed a petition before the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) protesting over the blocking of two more news websites, apparently because of their sharp criticism of rampant corruption, fraud and dictatorial trends in the government.
The association said the closure of these two websites was a further sign of a rapidly deteriorating environment for freedom of expression.
It brings to eight the total number of news websites now blocked.

“The government sees the new media as a threat to the continuation of its corrupt and fraudulent practices and so it violates the right to information of the people,” said Freddy Gamage, the convener of the Association.

The closure of the sites came in the aftermath of a new report by Transparency International which sharply criticised the government for its failure to implement the Right to Information bill, the lack protection for whistleblowers and the way it was treating activists involved in the battle against corruption.
“Sri Lanka must pass a Right to Information Law as a matter of urgency to enable citizens to realise their Fundamental Right to Information as guaranteed in the country’s Constitution,” Transparency International said.

In the past decade there have been 138 cases of attacks on journalists and media institutions in Sri Lanka, while 17 journalists have been killed during the past seven years, about 80 journalists have fled the country since 2005.
Sri Lanka was ranked 162 out of 179 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Soon after he was sworn in as Prime Minister in the presence of eight South Asian leaders including President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr. Modi relaunched the Prime Minister’s Office website also known as the PMO.

While Rajapaksa government is muscling the free media and encouraging crude propaganda by stooges in the government media, India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi is projecting a different picture.
Stressing that the website was an important medium of direct communication between him and the people, Mr. Modi said: “I am a firm believer in the power of technology and social media to communicate with people across the world”.

Mr. Modi said he hoped the platform would create opportunities to listen, learn and share one’s views.
“Through websites you will also get all the latest information about my speeches, schedules, foreign visits and a lot more. I will also keep informing you about innovative initiatives undertaken by the Government of India,” he said.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa said he had received a complaint alleging the violation of Article 14 of the 1978 Constitution by restricting freedom of publication and expression. 
Dr. Mahanamahewa said the freedom of expression or information was not absolute, as in certain cases, national security issues must be taken into consideration. He however said the complaint was being looked into.

With the government facing major crises nationally and internationally one major step it needs to take is to restore media freedom, whether it be the press, the electronic media or the powerful social media. If the freedom of expression and information continues to be suppressed it might explode in a way that shakes the government at its foundation.