Announcements

World Press Freedom Day

Panel Discussion to commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2009

Press Release

Panel Discussion to commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2009

Colombo Sri Lanka- The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) together with local media organizations will commemorate World Press Freedom Day which falls on May 3rd Sunday with a panel discussion themed, “CURRENT CHALLENGES FACING THE MEDIA”

Chaired by Lakshman Gunasekera, President of SAFMA, the speakers at the event include Sunil Jayasekara, Secretary FMM, Charitha Herath, Senior Lecturer, University of Peradeniya, Tillekeratne Kuruvita Bandara, representative of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka, Poddala Jayantha, General Secretary Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association and R Prabaghan, Chief Editor Virakesari.

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on 3 May worldwide. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Press Freedom Day in 1993, following a recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. The event will take place on 5th May 2009 at the SLPI Auditorium from 3.30 pm onwards and is held in collaboration with The Editor’s Guild of Sri Lanka, Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Free Media Movement, Tamil Media Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Federation of Media Employees Trade Union and SAFMA Sri Lanka Chapter.
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