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Newspaper closed

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: A Sinhala daily and English weekly of the same group have ceased publication after the Government froze its bank accounts to investigate affairs of the company.

In a letter to the Colombo-based diplomatic community, Thilakaratne Kuruwita Bandara and Hana Ibrahim, the Chief Editors of Mawbima and the Sunday Standard have alleged that the impartiality and professionalism of the newspapers incurred the wrath of the Government and President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Free Media Movement, a Sri Lanka-based NGO working on media freedom related issues, in a statement here on Thursday, contended that unnecessary and undemocratic blockade of newsprint has been imposed on the Jaffna peninsula for nearly 8 months.

Due to shortage of newsprint, some media publications have closed down and some others are faced with the prospect of closure. However, Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, in response to questions, told reporters that the issue has been sorted out on the initiative of Mr. Rajapaksa and soon a shipload of newsprint would reach Jaffna.

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