Rights groups condemn Lanka media ethics code

A code of media ethics proposed by Sri Lankan government has come under criticism from international rights watch groups which said it would impose harsh restrictions on journalists' ability to report freely.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), both based in New York, have condemned the move as the code awaits ratification by the Parliament.
"A draft media code introduced in the Sri Lankan parliament would impose harsh restrictions on journalists' ability to report freely," the Committee to Protect Journalists has said.
The code to be introduced by the Ministry of Mass Media and Information, uses broad and vaguely worded language to prohibit "criticisms affecting foreign relations" and content that "promotes anti-national attitudes."

It also prohibits "material against the integrity of the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature" and warns against the publication of content that "offends against expectations of the public, morality of the country or tend to lower the standards of public taste and morality", the CPJ adds.
"Sri Lankan journalists are already under enormous pressure not to be critical of the government, and the vagueness of this code will likely lead to greater self-censorship to avoid government retaliation," said Brad Adams, the HRW's Asia director.
Keheliya Rambukwella, the minister of mass media and information, downplayed the affects and said that it would be a MoU between the state and the journalists.

The CPJ has dubbed Sri Lanka the fourth worst country for journalism.