AsiaNews: 8 years of Christian commitment in the service of the people of Sri Lanka
AsiaNews has the courage to report Sri Lanka’s human rights violations and social problems, despite the government’s suppression of dissent. Various social and religious figures offer their best wishes and advice on the eight anniversary of the agency’s English edition.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – “AsiaNews was able to cover the most important events from people’s perspectives. The agency has a mission that it carries out with a Christian commitment. This is its greatest value,” said Herman Kumara, national president of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) and permanent delegate to the World Forum for Fisher People, as he paid tribute to AsiaNews on the eighth anniversary of its English edition, launched on 3 December 2003. Since 2006, Sri Lanka has been regularly covered, with stories about human rights violations (especially during the country’s ethnic conflict) and other social problems without consideration of ethnicity, religion or class. Various activists and public figures from the local Church, or people living on the island nation or elsewhere, have offered their best wishes on the anniversary and some constructive criticism on ways to improve AsiaNews’ work.
“Today the media are a business for the wealthy, not for the people,” Herman Kumara noted. “AsiaNews has played a different role, focusing attention on the point of view of the people even if journalists’ lives might be in danger. In today’s communications world, it is hard to find such bold, brave and brainy efforts.”
“There is no dissent in Sri Lankan society,” the NAFSO president added. “The government’s ideologies dominate the entire country and anyone who tries to criticise it must face the consequences. Most local media feel insecure and reluctant to report the truth. Instead, news items from AsiaNews were often picked up by other websites. This shows the importance of the agency’s work.”
“The total dedication and reliability with which the agency reports initiatives in civil society are encouraging whereas other media in the country are afraid to dissent from the state,” said Nimalka Fernando, a lawyer and Christian human rights activist. “In the past, AsiaNews’ work forced us to improve our work, for instance by seeking direct contact with the people.”
“I wish the agency all the best for the reliability with which it serves the people,” said Fr Reid Shelton Fernando, whose comments are often reported in AsiaNews. “In the future, it will be able to go further in explaining the mission of the Church in Sri Lanka and perhaps give space to readers’ comments.”
The Venerable Baddegama Samitha Thero, a Buddhist monk from Galle District (Northern Province) and Muslim leader Seyed Hassan Moulana, from Colombo, expressed their “warmest wishes” for the “success of the eight-year journey” undertaken by AsiaNews “reporting the news in an impartial and excellent fashion, without any discrimination.”
“AsiaNews is a success, but it can do more,” said Jude Mervyn Nicholapillai, a Tamil activist from northern Sri Lanka. “Publishing readers’ comments in order to understand their concerns and how they perceive problems and putting online videos of significant events could be useful means to improve the service.” (MMP)
“Today the media are a business for the wealthy, not for the people,” Herman Kumara noted. “AsiaNews has played a different role, focusing attention on the point of view of the people even if journalists’ lives might be in danger. In today’s communications world, it is hard to find such bold, brave and brainy efforts.”
“There is no dissent in Sri Lankan society,” the NAFSO president added. “The government’s ideologies dominate the entire country and anyone who tries to criticise it must face the consequences. Most local media feel insecure and reluctant to report the truth. Instead, news items from AsiaNews were often picked up by other websites. This shows the importance of the agency’s work.”
“The total dedication and reliability with which the agency reports initiatives in civil society are encouraging whereas other media in the country are afraid to dissent from the state,” said Nimalka Fernando, a lawyer and Christian human rights activist. “In the past, AsiaNews’ work forced us to improve our work, for instance by seeking direct contact with the people.”
“I wish the agency all the best for the reliability with which it serves the people,” said Fr Reid Shelton Fernando, whose comments are often reported in AsiaNews. “In the future, it will be able to go further in explaining the mission of the Church in Sri Lanka and perhaps give space to readers’ comments.”
The Venerable Baddegama Samitha Thero, a Buddhist monk from Galle District (Northern Province) and Muslim leader Seyed Hassan Moulana, from Colombo, expressed their “warmest wishes” for the “success of the eight-year journey” undertaken by AsiaNews “reporting the news in an impartial and excellent fashion, without any discrimination.”
“AsiaNews is a success, but it can do more,” said Jude Mervyn Nicholapillai, a Tamil activist from northern Sri Lanka. “Publishing readers’ comments in order to understand their concerns and how they perceive problems and putting online videos of significant events could be useful means to improve the service.” (MMP)
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See also
Protest against press censorship
24/01/2007
24/01/2007
