The day of democracy-Vox Populi, Vox Dei

Democracy is not a joke but a witty writer—later identified as Dr.Riley Fernando—buried a famous obituary in the state-run “Daily News” after the Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s United Front coalition government took over the Associated Newspaper Ceylon Limited (ANCL) better known as Lake House. The famous obituary read: “D.E.M.O’ Cracy, beloved husband of truth, loving father of LI Bertie, Brother of Faith, Hope and Justia interned on Saturday 20th instant,  Araliya Medura, Panagiyawatte, Anduruwella.” The Government did not stop at this. In 1974 acting on the emergency regulations the Government sent troops at midnight to seal the printing press and offices of Independent Newspapers of  Ceylon Limited who at that time the publishers of “Dawasa” the “Sun” the  ‘Weekend’ and about other daily weekly and monthly publications including the largest selling newspaper the “Riviresa”

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Despite all this the Government could not kill the free media and in July 1977 the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Government was thrown out by the people and for the first time, the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader Appapillai Amirthalingam was selected as the Leader of the Opposition. The United National Party (UNP) won the largest landslide in Sri Lankan history, taking over half the vote and 140 of the 168 seats, five-sixths of the legislature. The size of the landslide was magnified by the first-past-the-post system. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was decimated, falling from 91 seats to only eight–easily the worst defeat that a Sri Lankan governing party has ever suffered, and one of the worst ever suffered by a governing party in a Westminster system. 

On September 15, the United Nations marks the International Day of  Democracy. In a statement, the world body says while the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in major challenges globally, a new upheaval in Europe is reminding the world that our democratic principles are constantly under threat. In fact, now more than ever Democracy is backsliding, civic space is shrinking, distrust, and disinformation are growing while threats to the freedom of journalists and media workers are expanding by the day. 
This year, Democracy Day will focus on the importance of media freedom to democracy, peace, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. Free, independent and pluralistic media, able to keep the public informed on matters of public interest, is a key ingredient to democracy. It enables the public to make informed decisions and hold governments to account. When media freedoms are under threat - the flow of information can be stifled, skewed or cut off entirely. 
Increasingly, journalists around the world face limits to their ability to operate freely – with a grave impact on human rights, democracy and development. To mark International Democracy Day this year, the UN Office for Partnerships collaborates with the UN Democracy Fund to host a discussion in the SDG studio as part of the SDG Roundtable series. The conversation will showcase why protecting media freedom is a critical component of a healthy democracy. 

Moreover, it will propose and discuss solutions for the achievement of SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. You can contribute to this work by sharing the roundtable on 15 September and raising awareness around protecting media freedoms globally. 
Referring to the decline in media freedom, the UN says UNESCO has reported that 85 per cent of the world’s population experienced a decline in media freedom in their country in the past five years. 
Media globally are increasingly facing attacks, online and offline, increasing detention; the use of defamation laws and cybersecurity or hate speech laws to curb online expression; the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Laws (SLAPPs) and surveillance technologies; to target them and hamper their work. The COVID-19 crisis has also shown how it has become more critical than ever for media to gather and evaluate facts and fight disinformation. 

Equally critical is ensuring online safety and security. Traditionally, democracy is based on work of the executive, the legislature, the independent judiciary and the free media. But in Sri Lanka today we are far from the legendary United States President Abraham Lincoln’s vision of democracy being the Government of the people, for the people, and by the people.