Democracy has always been hailed as the form of government that is of the people, formed by the people for the people. Democracy is a form of government in which power is held indirectly by citizens in a free electoral system. The popularity of democracy is evident primarily because citizens enjoy universally recognized freedom and liberties. On the other hand journalism, most popularly referred to as press, has long been recognized as that part of social activity which is concerned with the dissemination of news and views of the society. Journalism primarily functions as a watchdog and it bridges the government and the public. The very nature of journalism requires absolute democratic environment for it cannot fulfill its functions in the absence of freedom of expression and opinion. Journalism helps people fully exercise their right to get information and express their opinion. Had it not been for press, people would not have been living in a democratic society rightfully.
Journalism for democracy
As John Stuart Mill stated reading newspapers, and perhaps writing to them, public meetings, and solicitations of different sorts addressed to the political authorities, are the extent of the participation of private citizens in general politics during the interval between one Parliamentary election and another, the role of journalism is more than evident in a democratic society.
In democratic societies the press is acknowledged as the fourth state. Government is the most powerful entity. Government is the only such party which can work for the public or against the public. Power may corrupt, therefore government need to be scrutinized. Government runs the country, so journalists need to co operate with the government. Press needs to deal with government due to its watchdog function and mediating function. Government needs to communicate with the public through press. Since democratic government is supposed to put the people first, the role of press is inevitable in constantly letting the people about the government’s doings. Had it not been for press, the government would have never been watchful enough to let democratic values and practices prevail in any state.
Democracy for press and journalism
Press is also subjected to be regulated and government is the regulatory body. Only a democratic government ensures the proper regulation of the press through which the press can function smoothly and provide citizens with the information required. Only a democartic government can ensure pres freedom. Government can even sue the press in matters of violation of rules or irregularities in the court. Government also provides facilities by regulating advertisements, providing incentives and huge source of news content etc to the press. Government is a major source of advertisements. Press is also an industry. So, it cannot remain aloof. Government can hinder or facilitate the press in many ways as per its own wish. Since legal provisions regarding every institution including journalism are made by the government, it can hugely influence the state of journalism in any country. The very essence of journalism lies in the democratic principles and ideologies which shows how inevitable democracy is for press.
Inter dependence of journalism and democracy
The history of journalism can be traced back to those days when anti-colonial freedom fighters started revealing the unjust activities of the colonizers in front of the mass people through the use of pamphlets. This message disseminating activities were intended to obtain independence and sovereignty of their nation and also get rid of slavery.
Whenever there is any attempt against democratic principles, ideology and system of government, the first attack is seen on press. If we see the case of military system of Junta in Union of Myanmar, the censorship, restriction and ban on broadcasting all news of public concerns characterizes the media system. Which is also proved by very less numbers of radio, television and newspaper houses? On the others side while if we see the state of media in our own country Nepal, freedom of press and publication, right to expressions etc are highly emphasized. This proves that democracy and journalism are like the two sides of a same coin.
The political history of Nepal, during the people’s revolution, the liberation force (Mukti Sena) established radio-broadcasting station at Bhojpur which was shifted to Biratnagar later. The active role of that radio-station and distribution of message through pamphlets to gather mass for protest against tyrannical Rana-regime to establish Democracy for the first time in Nepal can never be forgotten. Similarly the role mainstream media during Jana Andolan II to uproot tyrannical Monarchy system of government and restore Democratic system of government is considered very crucial. During the April uprising, only the private media houses were giving the factual news. On the other hand, the state media was giving false news so as to supress the people's movement.
Gyanendra's step of dissolving the parliament and taking the power in his hand was first evident when he intervened in the operation of press. There were news censorhip and army personnels were on duty inside the newsroom. This was the then monarch's first step in curbing democratic spirit of the press.
Thomas Jefferson’s famous saying of choosing press over government illustrates power of press. Like people’s representatives journalists are also in many ways people’s representatives albeit non elected. They have earned this status out of their work. Press as an institution maybe considered as alternative government/parliament/court.
Due to its very nature government and press don’t get along very well. They are almost always at conflicting/confronting situation. It is so because press acts as a watchdog but the government wants press to be its lapdog.
Worldwide press has been time and again criticized for focusing on government’s criticism only. Reconciling is done by the press through objective/ balanced reporting. Government on its part should allow judiciary to watch over the press and act as the regulatory body. Maintaining transparency would also silence all the confrontation and conflict. Antagonism can be reduced if the government understands journalists’ objective coverage of both positive and negative aspect of government.
Time and again it has been proved that the role of press becomes more than evident when democracy needs to be ushered in or needs to be protected in any country. Similarly, press freedom can only be ensured when there is a democratic government fully supporting the journalism's genuine cause for serving the citizen by letting them exercise their right to opinion and expression. Thus, journalim and democracy can grow from strength to strength when both walk hand in hand working for the upliftment of the country and its citizens.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Community Journalism
Community journalism is locally oriented, professional news coverage that typically focuses on city neighborhoods, individual suburbs or small towns, rather than metropolitan, state, national or world news. While prioritizing news stories, proximity factor is taken into consideration in community journalism.
If it covers wider topics, community journalism concentrates on their effect on local readers. Community newspapers, often but not always published weekly, also tend to cover subjects larger news media do not, such as students on the honor roll at the local high school, school sports, crimes such as vandalism, zoning issues and other details of community life. Sometimes dismissed as "chicken dinner" stories, such "hyper local" coverage often plays a vital role in building and maintaining neighborhoods.
Leo Lerner, founder of Chicago's erstwhile Lerner Newspapers, used to say, "A fistfight on Clark Street is more important to our readers than a war in Europe."
In the United States, about 97 percent of newspapers are classified as "community" newspapers, with circulations below 50,000. Their combined circulation, nearly 109 million, is triple that of the combined circulation of the country's large daily newspapers. An increasing number of community newspapers are now owned by large media organizations.
Community journalists are typically trained professional reporters and editors. Community journalism should not be confused with the work of citizen journalist, who are often unpaid amateurs, or with civic journalism although many community newspapers practice it.
Attacks on Delhi Public School, Dharan by the Maoists in the year 2003 wasn’t given major coverage in the national media but the local paper ‘Blast Daily’ had made it the main new story. People residing in and around Dharan would be more interested in knowing what has been happening around their town rather than a huge event taking place in the capital or other place.
If it covers wider topics, community journalism concentrates on their effect on local readers. Community newspapers, often but not always published weekly, also tend to cover subjects larger news media do not, such as students on the honor roll at the local high school, school sports, crimes such as vandalism, zoning issues and other details of community life. Sometimes dismissed as "chicken dinner" stories, such "hyper local" coverage often plays a vital role in building and maintaining neighborhoods.
Leo Lerner, founder of Chicago's erstwhile Lerner Newspapers, used to say, "A fistfight on Clark Street is more important to our readers than a war in Europe."
In the United States, about 97 percent of newspapers are classified as "community" newspapers, with circulations below 50,000. Their combined circulation, nearly 109 million, is triple that of the combined circulation of the country's large daily newspapers. An increasing number of community newspapers are now owned by large media organizations.
Community journalists are typically trained professional reporters and editors. Community journalism should not be confused with the work of citizen journalist, who are often unpaid amateurs, or with civic journalism although many community newspapers practice it.
Attacks on Delhi Public School, Dharan by the Maoists in the year 2003 wasn’t given major coverage in the national media but the local paper ‘Blast Daily’ had made it the main new story. People residing in and around Dharan would be more interested in knowing what has been happening around their town rather than a huge event taking place in the capital or other place.
Friday, April 3, 2009
SLC and all that fuss!!!!
SLC- the most dreaded and the most talked about examination more often referred to as the Iron Gate has once again begun to take center stage in Nepali households. From the year students in our country are promoted to the grade when they start using ink pens, SLC begins haunting them. Everything that they are forced to do, right from the cut down on leisure periods( that is if they had any) to the increasing hours of extra classes are all tried and tested methods of SLC preparation practiced in abundance. Students are no longer just mere students; they are almost like soldiers being prepared to face the monster that has been the hovering around every tenth grader for decades. As if parents’ and teachers’ constant reminders about SLC weren’t enough, everyone under the sun who is aware of your SLC candidacy makes it to a point of reminding you how much of a big deal SLC is.
But all the SLC fear is long thrown out of the window by the candidates all thanks to the pleasant experiences shared by their seniors who have been there and done that. For private school students (educated in English medium) the first paper of English is bound to be a cakewalk. However, the scenario is poles apart for the government school counterpart (now that’s a different sad story). Easily comprehendible texts and equally easy grammar questions await them. So the invigilator swears by his duty on the first day. The next day and the days that follow will probably be the most memorable days for most of the SLC candidates since there isn’t any examination that’s more dreaded yet so loved by the students for more than just one reason.
Plenty of students who have appeared for the exam in the past will have one or other incident related to cheating full throttle in the examination hall. My cousin was more than elated to have SLC invigilators who would direct them to maintain silence and do anything they wanted (that included passing answer sheets to changing seats albeit temporarily). The cherry on top, as per my cousin’s say, used to be the daily newspaper spread just perfectly covering his face averting direct encounter of things happening inside the examination hall.
Not all are blessed to have such understanding invigilators who believe in doing their job in the most “student friendly” manner. But then SLC invigilators’ one or the other lenient methods of invigilating make us realize that there are still plenty of Samaritans around us. Except for the super studious lot, who probably loath about the board first declaration being removed, most of them tend to study lesser and lesser as the examinations approach near. Not because of the overly good preparation. Rather they are consoled time and again about how fun it’ll be cheating right under the invigilator’s nose which but obviously lifts their long tired spirits.
Private school students are blessed to have their courses completed on time; actually way before the stipulated time. You see, the faster the better is the mantra private schools abide by to proudly announce the whole world their astounding number of distinction holders. The two shifts of coaching classes (irrespective of students’ personal requirements) are followed by endless revisions, tests, mock tests, and the list goes on. Most of the straight A students by heart almost all the past SLC questions. They almost become maniacs till they are done with the SLC exams. Students are forced to eat breath and sleep the SLC model questions. SLC candidates’ parents find plethora of reasons to not allow their children from taking a break from the academics throughout the tenth grade. After all their kids’ SLC results are crucial in making or breaking their social status.
With so much of overwhelming preparation done just to get past eight subjects teachers and parents should learn to stop pestering the students regarding SLC examination. Yes getting past school is a big deal but what is the whole point of bidding adieu to the golden years of school life with so much of fear embedded in students. For god sake, students who are used to giving three terminal examinations annually need not panic about SLC at all. Only if school officials and parents understood, the whole fuss surrounding SLC would have long disappeared.
But all the SLC fear is long thrown out of the window by the candidates all thanks to the pleasant experiences shared by their seniors who have been there and done that. For private school students (educated in English medium) the first paper of English is bound to be a cakewalk. However, the scenario is poles apart for the government school counterpart (now that’s a different sad story). Easily comprehendible texts and equally easy grammar questions await them. So the invigilator swears by his duty on the first day. The next day and the days that follow will probably be the most memorable days for most of the SLC candidates since there isn’t any examination that’s more dreaded yet so loved by the students for more than just one reason.
Plenty of students who have appeared for the exam in the past will have one or other incident related to cheating full throttle in the examination hall. My cousin was more than elated to have SLC invigilators who would direct them to maintain silence and do anything they wanted (that included passing answer sheets to changing seats albeit temporarily). The cherry on top, as per my cousin’s say, used to be the daily newspaper spread just perfectly covering his face averting direct encounter of things happening inside the examination hall.
Not all are blessed to have such understanding invigilators who believe in doing their job in the most “student friendly” manner. But then SLC invigilators’ one or the other lenient methods of invigilating make us realize that there are still plenty of Samaritans around us. Except for the super studious lot, who probably loath about the board first declaration being removed, most of them tend to study lesser and lesser as the examinations approach near. Not because of the overly good preparation. Rather they are consoled time and again about how fun it’ll be cheating right under the invigilator’s nose which but obviously lifts their long tired spirits.
Private school students are blessed to have their courses completed on time; actually way before the stipulated time. You see, the faster the better is the mantra private schools abide by to proudly announce the whole world their astounding number of distinction holders. The two shifts of coaching classes (irrespective of students’ personal requirements) are followed by endless revisions, tests, mock tests, and the list goes on. Most of the straight A students by heart almost all the past SLC questions. They almost become maniacs till they are done with the SLC exams. Students are forced to eat breath and sleep the SLC model questions. SLC candidates’ parents find plethora of reasons to not allow their children from taking a break from the academics throughout the tenth grade. After all their kids’ SLC results are crucial in making or breaking their social status.
With so much of overwhelming preparation done just to get past eight subjects teachers and parents should learn to stop pestering the students regarding SLC examination. Yes getting past school is a big deal but what is the whole point of bidding adieu to the golden years of school life with so much of fear embedded in students. For god sake, students who are used to giving three terminal examinations annually need not panic about SLC at all. Only if school officials and parents understood, the whole fuss surrounding SLC would have long disappeared.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Mimamsa Philosophy
Mimasha is one of the six Hindu philosophical darsanas or viewpoints. Jaimimi, an ancient sage, is believed to have given a concrete shape to this philosophy. The word Mimamsa refers to contemplate. Thus Mimasha in this regard is to contemplate and investigate over the proper interpretation of the Vedic texts. Because without proper study of Mimasha philosophy, one cannot probably comprehend the essence of the Vedic sentences.
The Mimamsa Sutra describes the different yagyas and what they are for, and elaborates the theory of apurva, which is the mysterious, transcendent power produced by a correctly performed rituals, not through the action of gods.
Kumarilabhatta is also to be credited for bringing Mimasha philosophy to its present state. His three books namely ‘Shlokvartik’, ‘Tantravartik’ and ‘Tupitika’ have furthermore aided in the explanation of Mimasha philosophy.
This Hindu darsana is considered to be scientific in many ways as well. It brought forward the idea of the necessity of good conduct in human’s life in order to attain a better life. This idea was forwarded at a time when people blindly devoted their life to God without feeling the need to do good work.
For a person who has the understanding of Mimasha philosophy will view the from a different perspective. Majority of us have the understanding of religion as a mere translation of the word dharma. But the truth is that religion merely stands for a particular sect or majhab whereas dharma encompasses a broader meaning. With changing times, numerous religions have mushroomed around the world. Each one with its own set of rituals, beliefs and practices. People following different religions therefore have prejudices regarding one another’s religion.
The technological advancements have reduced the world into a global village where interaction with people from different walks of life has become inevitable. When we interact with people from different religious background, we cannot help the prejudices from seeping into our minds. This then leads to riots and violence because we always think our religion is superior to others. Such circumstances would have been avoided if had deeper understanding of what religious texts actually tried to convey. Rather, we tend to believe in just one interpretation of a certain person and blindly follow.
Mimasha philosophy believes that all such misunderstandings have mushroomed because we have failed to get the thrust of the religious ideas. Besides, we have forgotten to actually delve into what other people say and simply jump to conclusion. We fail to understand the hidden meanings of every information that is being disseminated to us in this global village. We blindly give into everything and everyone by saying this world has become global and to not give into what everyone is doing will be an act of foolishness.
It is at times like these when we need to take a cue or two from Mimasha philosophy in order to make sense of our existence in this technologically advanced world where one cannot remain untouched by the phenomenon of globalization.
State of Media in Sri Lanka
INTRODUCTION
Sri Lanka, the former British colony of Ceylon, attained independence on February 4, 1948, following the British withdrawal from the Indian subcontinent in August 1947. Under the Constitution of 1972, Sri Lanka became a republic, its official title being the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The unicameral parliamentary system introduced by the constitution made the prime minister, who belonged to the majority party in the parliament, the head of the government. Under a new constitution, promulgated on September 7, 1978, the polity changed to a presidential system, with the president directly elected for a term of six years and holding full executive authority. Two major political parties have led the governments since independence: the United National Party (UNP) from 1948 to 1956, 1965 to 1970, and 1977 to 1994. The leftist Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from 1956 to 1965 and from 1970 to 1977, and then renamed as the People's Alliance (PA) from 1994 to the early twenty-first century.
The Sri Lankan Parliament consists of one chamber with 225 members, elected by a system of modified proportional representation. The country comprises 9 provinces and 24 administrative districts, each with an appointed governor and elected Development Council. In November 1987, an amendment to the Constitution provided for eight provincial councils, with the northern and eastern provinces merged as one administrative unit.
Conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils
The government's relationship with the press in Sri Lanka at various points in the last half a century can be best understood by following the chronological landmarks in the conflict between the island nation's two principal communities: the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority. Since independence, and especially since about 1976, Sri Lanka's politics have been rocked by a festering, often violent, conflict between those two communities. The conflict has compelled the government to impose a variety of restrictions on constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the press. At various times, censorship has been imposed on newspapers as well as on the electronic media; journalists have been physically assaulted, a few even killed; and there have been court confrontations between the journalists and the government. A very active Free Media Movement and the Editors Guild, assisted by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have intervened with the government at various times, with some success.
Despite such a murderous civil war, Sri Lanka maintained its parliamentary democracy and, within reasonable restrictions, the fundamental rights of its citizens and an independent judiciary. In the May 1994 presidential elections, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was voted in as president. Her peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) began in October 1994 and lasted 100 days, but the talks failed and hostilities resumed. This time, the Sri Lanka Security Forces were able to recapture the Jaffna peninsula by December 1995, ending 13 years of LTTE rule there.
ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK
The persisting ethnic conflict spanning a quarter century has adversely affected the economy of the island nation not only in terms of the fiscal burden of the costly military campaign against the rebels, but also in the way it has paralyzed the agricultural and plantation activities so crucial for the exports and the foreign exchange earnings. One must also note that from 1977, the country shifted its prime dependence on plantation crops, notably tea, to textiles and processed foods, insurance, and banking as foreign exchange leaders. In 2000, tea exports accounted only for one-fifth of the total, while the textiles brought in 65 percent of the exchange.
Despite the handicaps imposed by the festering strife, Sri Lanka has retained its second-place among the nations of south Asia (with the exception of the Maldives) for the highest per capita gross national product. The economy maintained a healthy annual 5.5 percent growth throughout the 1990s, except in 1995 and 1996. Sri Lanka is also ahead of the other states of south Asia in another important area: literacy, which stands at more than 90 percent and is at almost 100 percent among children up to the age of 14. Most of the citizens who are illiterate are senior citizens, who did not have the opportunity to go to school. The high literacy has a positive impact on the state of the economy, on the readership of newspapers and magazines, on the size of radio and television audiences, and on the growing number of Internet users.
Media in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's media outlets are generally divided along linguistic and ethnic lines, with state and private media operators providing services in the main languages. Many of the broadcasters and publishers are owned by the government, including two major TV stations, radio networks operated by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and newspaper titles in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
However, there are over dozen privately owned radio stations and more than eight privately operated television stations. They often engage in political debate and criticise government policies
NEWSPAPERS
Most newspapers in Sri Lanka are published by three powerful groups: The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), or Lake House; Upali Newspapers Limited (UNL); and Wijeya Newspapers Limited (WNL). At the time of the government's takeover of the ANCL, that organization's dailies in all three languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English— commanded the highest circulation in the country. In 1981, the UNL was founded by Upali Wijewardene, who was related to ANCL's Wijewardene and was also a cousin of the then president Junius R. Jayawardene. Upali was a very successful businessman who held political ambitions but he perished in a mysterious plane crash in February 1983. Control of his company passed on to his widow, but in reality her father, who was a brother of Sirimavo Bandaranayake, held the power. Though the UNL is thus connected with both the UNP and the SLFP leadership, it claims to be independent of both the UNP and PA and is often critical of both organizations. The third major group, WNL, is owned by Ranjith Wijewardene, a former Chairman of ANCL and son of D. R. Wijewardene.. Politically, Ranjith is close to the UNP. The WNL started the weekend Irida Lankadipa in February 1986, the Sunday Times in June 1987, the daily Lankadipa from September 10, 1991, the Mid-Week Mirror in 1995, and the Daily Mirror from June 1999.
Below are the important newspapers in the three languages along with their proprietary affiliation:
Sinhalese: The daily Dinamana and Sunday Silumina are owned by the ANCL. They fully support the government's position on all issues, changing their stand with the shift of political power from one party to the other.
The daily Divayina and the Sunday Divayana are owned by the UNL. The Sunday Lankadipa (since 1986) and the daily Lankadipa (since 1991) are owned by the WNL.
English: The Daily News, the evening Observer and the Sunday Observer, are all published by the government-owned ANCL. The Island and Sunday Island are published by the UNL. The
Sunday Times, the Midweek Mirror and the Daily Mirror are owned by the WNL.
Outside of the three groups, the Sunday Leader (started in 1994) is published by the Leader Newspapers Limited, while the Weekend Express, a weekly, is published (since 1995) by the Indian Express Newspapers Limited.
Tamil: The two major Tamil newspapers published from Colombo are the Thinakaran, owned by the ANCL, and Veerakesari, which is owned by a Tamil businessman and published by the Indian Express Newspapers Limited. It subtly supports Tamil nationalism.
There are several tabloids published in the north and the east. Among them, Eelanadu, Eelanadam, and Udayan, which openly support Tamil separatism. Of the 23 important newspapers, 10 are dailies, 4 in Sinhala, and 3 each in Tamil and English; 11 are Sunday editions, 5 in Sinhala, 2 in Tamil, and 4 in English; 1 publication appears only on Wednesdays and another only on Saturdays.
The highest circulation is in Sinhala newspapers, at 389,000 daily and 901,000 on Sundays, with Lankadipa and Dinamana closely competing with each other, while the Sunday editions of Silumina and Divayana Irida claim the highest honors. The English newspapers come next, with a total circulation estimated at 132,000 daily with the Daily News having the highest circulation and 407,000 on Sundays. The Sunday Observer, Sunday Leader, and Sunday Island compete for the highest circulation among Sunday papers. The Tamil papers have roughly a combined circulation of 66,500 daily and 107,000 on Sundays, with Thinakaran and Veerakesari and their Sunday editions competing with each other.
RADIO
Until the liberalization in 1984, radio was a government monopoly. It was governed by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Act of 1966, which established the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). It had two services: National Service and Commercial Service, both in three languages: Sinhala, Tamil, and English. In 2002, it had seven home services, three regional services, six community services (Aralangnwila, Girandurukotte, Kot-male, Maha Illuppallama, Jaffna, and Vavuniya) and seven overseas services. The services are named: the Sinhala National Service, the Tamil Commercial Service, the English Commercial Service, the Regional Services, and the Education and Sports Service. The overseas service uses several Indian languages: Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu. The overseas service is principally beamed at south and southeast Asia and the Middle East. The rules governing the Conduct of Business of the Commercial Service were framed by the Advertising Department of the SLBC. They took effect May l, 1994. They stipulate that advertising materials that contain statements or suggestions that "may be considered to be of a political nature or offensive to religious views, racial traits, and sentimental susceptibilities of any section of the community" would not be accepted.
The SLBC has three major regional stations: North Central, based on Anuradhapura and called Rajarata Sevaya; Southern, based in Matara and called Ruhunu Sevaya; and Central, based in Kandy and called the Kandurata Sevaya. The Colombo-based City FM Service is currently called the SLBC's Sri Lanka FM. The latest government-owned radio station of the SLBC, which was inaugurated in January 1997, is the popular Lakhanda, a 24-hour service in Sinhala. While the SLBC continues to operate in the public sector, there are now eleven private radio stations: Sun FM 99.9, TNL 90/101Radio, Yes FM, 7FM, Capital Radio, and Gold FM 89 (all in English); Sirasa FM (MBC Networks), Savana, Hiru FM 107.9, and Tharu FM 96.7 (all in Sinhala); and FM 99 and Suriyan FM 103.2 (both in Tamil).
Even the private radio stations are, however, governed by certain "guidelines" from the government, particularly in regard to materials affecting the country's security and harmony among the ethnic minorities. The SLBC as well as the private stations have, by and large, operated independently but under the general direction of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The broad mandate for its programming stipulates that nothing be included in the programs "which offends good taste or decency or is likely to incite to crime or lead to disorder or to attend [sic] any racial or religious susceptibilities or to be offensive to public feelings."
TELEVISION
Just like the radio, television was a government monopoly until the liberalization in 1992 and 1994. The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Act of 1982 established the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and the Independent Television Network (ITN) The SLRC is run by a board of six nominees of the government, including one from the SLBC and one representing the National Film Corporation (NFC). Its mandate parallels that of the SLBC in terms of its programming. In September 1986, it established the Copy Code, whereby the SLRC would not accept any advertising copy that was critical of traditions and customs of any community, or would create a feeling of insecurity or disharmony in the community, or could be injurious to the well-being of any community or the devotees of any religion. The code was further revised in November 1995. According to the code, "unacceptable material" is that which makes "irreverent reference to any time, incident or concept of religious, racial, political or sentimental susceptibilities of the community." Such cautionary language in the codes meant for radio and television broadcasting reflects the ethnic tensions and the civil war between the two principal communities on the island nation over the last quarter century. The government seems eager to establish a delicate balance between upholding the protection of fundamental rights of expression to individuals and to the media that are guaranteed by the constitution, and the supreme need to maintain interethnic harmony in a plural society.
Major changes came in 1992 when the UNP government allowed private television networks. In that year, the Maharaja Television Network (MTV), in collaboration with Singapore Telecom International (SingTel), began its operations as MTV and MTV Newsvision. The Sirasa TV replaced the MTV channel in June 1998 as the first private sector nationwide TV channel while MTV Newsvision was renamed MTV. In the following year, the Teleshan Network Limited (TNL) was started; it now operates TNL TV and TNL radio. In 1994, the Extra-Terrestrial Television (ETV) was started; it added a second channel in 1995 called ETV2. The two ETV channels were later replaced by Swarnavahini and ETV in April 1996 when there was a change of ownership. Then in 1996, the Dynavision Broadcasting Coprporation started the Dynavision channel, which became Sri Lanka's first stereo broadcast station. In 1999, the government's Telecommunication Authority authorized two more private television channels: Ruhuna 2001 Multivision and Channel 9, the first "direct-to-home" pay television, owned by TV and Radio Private Limited, a private collaboration between Sri Lanka and Australia.
Until 1994, there was complete state control over the production and broadcast of news concerning Sri Lanka. All private channels broadcasting—even BBC, CNN, or other foreign channels—were required to delete any items in which Sri Lanka was mentioned. This became a major issue in the 1992 and 1994 elections. The PA's Election Manifesto in 1994 promised to restore the freedom of expression of the citizens and of the media and to "create a framework within which the media can function independently and without inhibition." Accordingly, after the elections, the PA allowed private television companies to produce and broadcast local news bulletins. In October 1995, however, the government introduced "temporary censorship" on news concerning "security matters."
MOVIES
Sri Lankan cinema in recent years has featured films that tackle gritty subjects, including family relationships, abortion and the years of conflict between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north. Many films are based on Sinhalese literature. Its style is similar to neighbouring South Indian cinema, and often features the beautiful scenery of Sri Lanka. The first film to be produced and shown in Sri Lanka was Kadanwunu Poronduwa (The Broken Promise) which was released in 1947. The first colour film of Sri Lanka was Ran Muthu Doova. Hundreds of movies were made in Sri Lanka afterwards. However the most influential filmmaker in the history of Sri Lankan cinema is Lester James Peiris who has directed many movies of prodigious quality which led to global acclaim. His latest film, 'Wekanda Walawwa' (Mansion by the Lake) became the first movie to be submitted from Sri Lanka for the Best Foreign Language film award at the Academy Awards. 'Nidhanaya' directed by Lester James Peiris is however considered as the best movie ever made in Sri Lanka.
In 2005 Director Vimmukthi Jayasundhara became the first Sri Lankan to ever win the prestigious Camera d’Or award for Best First Film at the world renowned Cannes Film Festival for his Sinhalese language film Sulanga Enu Pinisa (The Forsaken Land). Many Sri Lankan filmmakers have won prestigious awards. The highest Documentary film award being the Golden Mercury at Venice in 1952 and again in 1972 by Pragnasoma Hettiarcahi(this information comes from Dr. D.B Nihalsinge's Book "Public Enterprise in Film Development success and failure In Sri Lanka", there exists no local or international record about this award, Best film award in Venice film festival is Golden Lion).
Controversial filmmaker Asoka Handagama's films are considered by many prestigious names in the Sri Lankan film world to be the best films of honest response to the ethnic conflict currently raging in the country.
Prasanna Vithanage is one of Sri Lanka's most notable filmmakers. His films have won many awards, both local and international. His last two films, 'Death on a Full Moon' and 'August Sun' have been critically acclaimed. While both films deal with the ethnic conflict, 'Death on a Full Moon' can be regarded as one of the best films made to date by a Sri Lankan filmmaker.
Recent releases like 'Sooriya Arana', 'Samanala thatu', 'Hiripoda wessa' have attracted Sri Lankans to cinemas.'Sooriya Arana' was the highest grossing film in Sri Lankan cinema history, generating Rs.121 million at the box office. 'Aba', the forthcoming epic movie by Jackson Anthony will become the most expensive film produced in Sri Lanka costing over 60 million Rupees to produce. Several other countries such as China, Italy and Australia have shown interest in screening this film after its trailer was released. Among them China has shown special interest by considering dubbing it in Chinese. Aba will be released on 8th August, 2008.
Sri Lankan films are usually of Sinhalese language. Tamil language movies are also filmed in Sri Lanka but they are not part of Kollywood which is Indian Tamil cinema. However some Kollywood films are based in Sri Lanka as well.
MUSIC
The music of Sri Lanka originates in cultural traditions deriving from three influences: the religious practices of Buddhism, the aftereffects of Portuguese colonization, and the commercial and historical influence of Indian culture - specifically, Bollywood cinema. The Theravada sect of Buddhism has influenced Sri Lankan Music since Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka two millennia ago.
Portuguese colonizers arrived centuries after the Buddha, in the mid 1400s, bringing with them cantiga ballads, ukuleles and guitars; as well as African slaves (referred to, historically, as kaffrinhas), who brought with them a style of music now referred to as baila. The people of these two regions, and the musical traditions they brought with them, served to contribute further to the diverse musical roots of modern Sri Lankan music.
Since 1998, Many Pop/R&B groups have emerged in Sri Lanka - the most prominent of which is known as Bathiya and Santhush (these two musicians are considered pioneers in contemporary Sri Lankan pop, having begun performing in 1998 with female singer Ashanti and rapper Randhir). Among their accomplishments; they are the first Sri Lankan group to be signed to an international record label (Sony BMG), and were an integral component in the label's entrance into the nation's music industry in 2002/2003. They have received international awards for their compositions, and have performed in several countries - including on BBC radio in the UK. Chitral 'Chity' Somapala is an artist who lives in Germany and has his own Power Metal band called "Civilization One". He's the first artist who did a sinhalese sond which falls into Rock Music category, which is the theme song for "Lion Beer". The artist M.I.A. is an electric artist living in London who is of Sri Lankan ancestry. M.I.A. has recently reached acclaim in the United States. Other Western styles of music, such as rock and heavy metal, are also popular among the middle and upper class youth of the country.
ONLINE MEDIA
The use of the internet is a growing force within Sri Lanka primarily because of its high literacy rate. Many of the newspapers now have online editions. Because of the limited circulation for the daily and weekly newspapers, they are heavily dependent on advertising. As a result of this it is very rare to see Sri Lankan newspapers engage in investigative journalism or daring exposes of big business
News Websites
Sinhala 24 News - Sinhala Langugage News Aggregator
The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva -24Hrs Official Government News
News-Lanka- 24Hrs News Service. English
Nidahasa news- 24Hrs news. English
Sri lanka News portal. Sinhala/English
Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka - Matters related to defence and public security in Sri Lanka
LankaeNews - 24h news. sinhala/English
Sooriyan - Sooriyan News Service 24 Hrs
Lanka Business Online - 24h news with a strong focus on business and economy
Lanka Everything- 24h news
Lanka Academic - 24h news
Lanka Page
Lanka Herald
Lanka Web
Muslim Guardian - 24h news.
Vimasuma - 24h news, business and economic analysis in Sinhala
eThalaya - 24h news & sports in Sinhala
CENSORSHIP
The government of President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga, which was in power at the start of the twenty-first century, came into power on the basis of an Election Manifesto that promised fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the press. Censorship was re-imposed on June 5, 1998, when the war against the LTTE heated up and the government felt that "unfettered freedom" for the press resulted in newspapers carrying vital information that provided "tactical benefits" to the LTTE. This time, censorship applied to all reports relating to the war being fought in the north and east sections of the island. Local and international coverage of the war was prohibited, as was any discussion by the media of the actions of police and military officials. All reports, photographs, and videotapes were to pass a military censor, army general Jaliya Nammuni, the first time the government had appointed a such an overseer. Journalists were forbidden from entering the conflict zones, or, in the government's language, the "uncleared areas."
The censorship continued at the civilian level with the appointment of Ariya Rubasinghe as the chief censor and with the announcement of even tighter restrictions in November 1999. On June 30, 2000, a panel of three judges of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court unanimously nullified the appointment of a government censor or "competent Authority" in response to a fundamental rights petition filed by the newspaper group, Leader Publications, challenging the closure of the Sunday Leader and associated Sinhalese newspapers by the chief censor. The immediate reason for the action was the publication of an article in the Sunday Leader entitled "War in Fantasyland," which lampooned the government's censorship policy
Information controls in 2002 followed more subtle and less obvious methods. Thus, books, magazines, and videos were quietly banned without fanfare or publication of lists of banned materials. In the case of imported materials, the Customs and Excise officials quietly confiscated them on grounds that they were pornographic, offending traditional values or tenets of Theravada Buddhism. Political writings, even if they were critical of government policies, received far more tolerance than those affecting religion or family values.
Although the Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera had pledged that the censorship would be lifted before the parliamentary elections were announced, the government made no changes in the policy even after August 18, when the elections were announced for October 10; disappointingly for the press, no changes were made to the censorship policy. In September, the government suspended the additional censorship regulations imposed during the year.
STATE PRESS RELATIONSHIP
In order to facilitate relations with the press, the government has established the Sri Lanka Press Council. However, unlike most countries where the role of such a body is to protect the journalists and publishers, the Press Council in Sri Lanka is charged with the responsibility of protecting individual citizens who may have grievances against the press. Journalists look to their own unions, the most important of them being the Editors' Guild or the Free Media Movement, for readdress of their grievances.
Sri Lanka, the former British colony of Ceylon, attained independence on February 4, 1948, following the British withdrawal from the Indian subcontinent in August 1947. Under the Constitution of 1972, Sri Lanka became a republic, its official title being the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The unicameral parliamentary system introduced by the constitution made the prime minister, who belonged to the majority party in the parliament, the head of the government. Under a new constitution, promulgated on September 7, 1978, the polity changed to a presidential system, with the president directly elected for a term of six years and holding full executive authority. Two major political parties have led the governments since independence: the United National Party (UNP) from 1948 to 1956, 1965 to 1970, and 1977 to 1994. The leftist Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from 1956 to 1965 and from 1970 to 1977, and then renamed as the People's Alliance (PA) from 1994 to the early twenty-first century.
The Sri Lankan Parliament consists of one chamber with 225 members, elected by a system of modified proportional representation. The country comprises 9 provinces and 24 administrative districts, each with an appointed governor and elected Development Council. In November 1987, an amendment to the Constitution provided for eight provincial councils, with the northern and eastern provinces merged as one administrative unit.
Conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils
The government's relationship with the press in Sri Lanka at various points in the last half a century can be best understood by following the chronological landmarks in the conflict between the island nation's two principal communities: the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority. Since independence, and especially since about 1976, Sri Lanka's politics have been rocked by a festering, often violent, conflict between those two communities. The conflict has compelled the government to impose a variety of restrictions on constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the press. At various times, censorship has been imposed on newspapers as well as on the electronic media; journalists have been physically assaulted, a few even killed; and there have been court confrontations between the journalists and the government. A very active Free Media Movement and the Editors Guild, assisted by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have intervened with the government at various times, with some success.
Despite such a murderous civil war, Sri Lanka maintained its parliamentary democracy and, within reasonable restrictions, the fundamental rights of its citizens and an independent judiciary. In the May 1994 presidential elections, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was voted in as president. Her peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) began in October 1994 and lasted 100 days, but the talks failed and hostilities resumed. This time, the Sri Lanka Security Forces were able to recapture the Jaffna peninsula by December 1995, ending 13 years of LTTE rule there.
ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK
The persisting ethnic conflict spanning a quarter century has adversely affected the economy of the island nation not only in terms of the fiscal burden of the costly military campaign against the rebels, but also in the way it has paralyzed the agricultural and plantation activities so crucial for the exports and the foreign exchange earnings. One must also note that from 1977, the country shifted its prime dependence on plantation crops, notably tea, to textiles and processed foods, insurance, and banking as foreign exchange leaders. In 2000, tea exports accounted only for one-fifth of the total, while the textiles brought in 65 percent of the exchange.
Despite the handicaps imposed by the festering strife, Sri Lanka has retained its second-place among the nations of south Asia (with the exception of the Maldives) for the highest per capita gross national product. The economy maintained a healthy annual 5.5 percent growth throughout the 1990s, except in 1995 and 1996. Sri Lanka is also ahead of the other states of south Asia in another important area: literacy, which stands at more than 90 percent and is at almost 100 percent among children up to the age of 14. Most of the citizens who are illiterate are senior citizens, who did not have the opportunity to go to school. The high literacy has a positive impact on the state of the economy, on the readership of newspapers and magazines, on the size of radio and television audiences, and on the growing number of Internet users.
Media in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's media outlets are generally divided along linguistic and ethnic lines, with state and private media operators providing services in the main languages. Many of the broadcasters and publishers are owned by the government, including two major TV stations, radio networks operated by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and newspaper titles in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
However, there are over dozen privately owned radio stations and more than eight privately operated television stations. They often engage in political debate and criticise government policies
NEWSPAPERS
Most newspapers in Sri Lanka are published by three powerful groups: The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), or Lake House; Upali Newspapers Limited (UNL); and Wijeya Newspapers Limited (WNL). At the time of the government's takeover of the ANCL, that organization's dailies in all three languages—Sinhala, Tamil, and English— commanded the highest circulation in the country. In 1981, the UNL was founded by Upali Wijewardene, who was related to ANCL's Wijewardene and was also a cousin of the then president Junius R. Jayawardene. Upali was a very successful businessman who held political ambitions but he perished in a mysterious plane crash in February 1983. Control of his company passed on to his widow, but in reality her father, who was a brother of Sirimavo Bandaranayake, held the power. Though the UNL is thus connected with both the UNP and the SLFP leadership, it claims to be independent of both the UNP and PA and is often critical of both organizations. The third major group, WNL, is owned by Ranjith Wijewardene, a former Chairman of ANCL and son of D. R. Wijewardene.. Politically, Ranjith is close to the UNP. The WNL started the weekend Irida Lankadipa in February 1986, the Sunday Times in June 1987, the daily Lankadipa from September 10, 1991, the Mid-Week Mirror in 1995, and the Daily Mirror from June 1999.
Below are the important newspapers in the three languages along with their proprietary affiliation:
Sinhalese: The daily Dinamana and Sunday Silumina are owned by the ANCL. They fully support the government's position on all issues, changing their stand with the shift of political power from one party to the other.
The daily Divayina and the Sunday Divayana are owned by the UNL. The Sunday Lankadipa (since 1986) and the daily Lankadipa (since 1991) are owned by the WNL.
English: The Daily News, the evening Observer and the Sunday Observer, are all published by the government-owned ANCL. The Island and Sunday Island are published by the UNL. The
Sunday Times, the Midweek Mirror and the Daily Mirror are owned by the WNL.
Outside of the three groups, the Sunday Leader (started in 1994) is published by the Leader Newspapers Limited, while the Weekend Express, a weekly, is published (since 1995) by the Indian Express Newspapers Limited.
Tamil: The two major Tamil newspapers published from Colombo are the Thinakaran, owned by the ANCL, and Veerakesari, which is owned by a Tamil businessman and published by the Indian Express Newspapers Limited. It subtly supports Tamil nationalism.
There are several tabloids published in the north and the east. Among them, Eelanadu, Eelanadam, and Udayan, which openly support Tamil separatism. Of the 23 important newspapers, 10 are dailies, 4 in Sinhala, and 3 each in Tamil and English; 11 are Sunday editions, 5 in Sinhala, 2 in Tamil, and 4 in English; 1 publication appears only on Wednesdays and another only on Saturdays.
The highest circulation is in Sinhala newspapers, at 389,000 daily and 901,000 on Sundays, with Lankadipa and Dinamana closely competing with each other, while the Sunday editions of Silumina and Divayana Irida claim the highest honors. The English newspapers come next, with a total circulation estimated at 132,000 daily with the Daily News having the highest circulation and 407,000 on Sundays. The Sunday Observer, Sunday Leader, and Sunday Island compete for the highest circulation among Sunday papers. The Tamil papers have roughly a combined circulation of 66,500 daily and 107,000 on Sundays, with Thinakaran and Veerakesari and their Sunday editions competing with each other.
RADIO
Until the liberalization in 1984, radio was a government monopoly. It was governed by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Act of 1966, which established the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). It had two services: National Service and Commercial Service, both in three languages: Sinhala, Tamil, and English. In 2002, it had seven home services, three regional services, six community services (Aralangnwila, Girandurukotte, Kot-male, Maha Illuppallama, Jaffna, and Vavuniya) and seven overseas services. The services are named: the Sinhala National Service, the Tamil Commercial Service, the English Commercial Service, the Regional Services, and the Education and Sports Service. The overseas service uses several Indian languages: Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu. The overseas service is principally beamed at south and southeast Asia and the Middle East. The rules governing the Conduct of Business of the Commercial Service were framed by the Advertising Department of the SLBC. They took effect May l, 1994. They stipulate that advertising materials that contain statements or suggestions that "may be considered to be of a political nature or offensive to religious views, racial traits, and sentimental susceptibilities of any section of the community" would not be accepted.
The SLBC has three major regional stations: North Central, based on Anuradhapura and called Rajarata Sevaya; Southern, based in Matara and called Ruhunu Sevaya; and Central, based in Kandy and called the Kandurata Sevaya. The Colombo-based City FM Service is currently called the SLBC's Sri Lanka FM. The latest government-owned radio station of the SLBC, which was inaugurated in January 1997, is the popular Lakhanda, a 24-hour service in Sinhala. While the SLBC continues to operate in the public sector, there are now eleven private radio stations: Sun FM 99.9, TNL 90/101Radio, Yes FM, 7FM, Capital Radio, and Gold FM 89 (all in English); Sirasa FM (MBC Networks), Savana, Hiru FM 107.9, and Tharu FM 96.7 (all in Sinhala); and FM 99 and Suriyan FM 103.2 (both in Tamil).
Even the private radio stations are, however, governed by certain "guidelines" from the government, particularly in regard to materials affecting the country's security and harmony among the ethnic minorities. The SLBC as well as the private stations have, by and large, operated independently but under the general direction of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The broad mandate for its programming stipulates that nothing be included in the programs "which offends good taste or decency or is likely to incite to crime or lead to disorder or to attend [sic] any racial or religious susceptibilities or to be offensive to public feelings."
TELEVISION
Just like the radio, television was a government monopoly until the liberalization in 1992 and 1994. The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Act of 1982 established the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and the Independent Television Network (ITN) The SLRC is run by a board of six nominees of the government, including one from the SLBC and one representing the National Film Corporation (NFC). Its mandate parallels that of the SLBC in terms of its programming. In September 1986, it established the Copy Code, whereby the SLRC would not accept any advertising copy that was critical of traditions and customs of any community, or would create a feeling of insecurity or disharmony in the community, or could be injurious to the well-being of any community or the devotees of any religion. The code was further revised in November 1995. According to the code, "unacceptable material" is that which makes "irreverent reference to any time, incident or concept of religious, racial, political or sentimental susceptibilities of the community." Such cautionary language in the codes meant for radio and television broadcasting reflects the ethnic tensions and the civil war between the two principal communities on the island nation over the last quarter century. The government seems eager to establish a delicate balance between upholding the protection of fundamental rights of expression to individuals and to the media that are guaranteed by the constitution, and the supreme need to maintain interethnic harmony in a plural society.
Major changes came in 1992 when the UNP government allowed private television networks. In that year, the Maharaja Television Network (MTV), in collaboration with Singapore Telecom International (SingTel), began its operations as MTV and MTV Newsvision. The Sirasa TV replaced the MTV channel in June 1998 as the first private sector nationwide TV channel while MTV Newsvision was renamed MTV. In the following year, the Teleshan Network Limited (TNL) was started; it now operates TNL TV and TNL radio. In 1994, the Extra-Terrestrial Television (ETV) was started; it added a second channel in 1995 called ETV2. The two ETV channels were later replaced by Swarnavahini and ETV in April 1996 when there was a change of ownership. Then in 1996, the Dynavision Broadcasting Coprporation started the Dynavision channel, which became Sri Lanka's first stereo broadcast station. In 1999, the government's Telecommunication Authority authorized two more private television channels: Ruhuna 2001 Multivision and Channel 9, the first "direct-to-home" pay television, owned by TV and Radio Private Limited, a private collaboration between Sri Lanka and Australia.
Until 1994, there was complete state control over the production and broadcast of news concerning Sri Lanka. All private channels broadcasting—even BBC, CNN, or other foreign channels—were required to delete any items in which Sri Lanka was mentioned. This became a major issue in the 1992 and 1994 elections. The PA's Election Manifesto in 1994 promised to restore the freedom of expression of the citizens and of the media and to "create a framework within which the media can function independently and without inhibition." Accordingly, after the elections, the PA allowed private television companies to produce and broadcast local news bulletins. In October 1995, however, the government introduced "temporary censorship" on news concerning "security matters."
MOVIES
Sri Lankan cinema in recent years has featured films that tackle gritty subjects, including family relationships, abortion and the years of conflict between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north. Many films are based on Sinhalese literature. Its style is similar to neighbouring South Indian cinema, and often features the beautiful scenery of Sri Lanka. The first film to be produced and shown in Sri Lanka was Kadanwunu Poronduwa (The Broken Promise) which was released in 1947. The first colour film of Sri Lanka was Ran Muthu Doova. Hundreds of movies were made in Sri Lanka afterwards. However the most influential filmmaker in the history of Sri Lankan cinema is Lester James Peiris who has directed many movies of prodigious quality which led to global acclaim. His latest film, 'Wekanda Walawwa' (Mansion by the Lake) became the first movie to be submitted from Sri Lanka for the Best Foreign Language film award at the Academy Awards. 'Nidhanaya' directed by Lester James Peiris is however considered as the best movie ever made in Sri Lanka.
In 2005 Director Vimmukthi Jayasundhara became the first Sri Lankan to ever win the prestigious Camera d’Or award for Best First Film at the world renowned Cannes Film Festival for his Sinhalese language film Sulanga Enu Pinisa (The Forsaken Land). Many Sri Lankan filmmakers have won prestigious awards. The highest Documentary film award being the Golden Mercury at Venice in 1952 and again in 1972 by Pragnasoma Hettiarcahi(this information comes from Dr. D.B Nihalsinge's Book "Public Enterprise in Film Development success and failure In Sri Lanka", there exists no local or international record about this award, Best film award in Venice film festival is Golden Lion).
Controversial filmmaker Asoka Handagama's films are considered by many prestigious names in the Sri Lankan film world to be the best films of honest response to the ethnic conflict currently raging in the country.
Prasanna Vithanage is one of Sri Lanka's most notable filmmakers. His films have won many awards, both local and international. His last two films, 'Death on a Full Moon' and 'August Sun' have been critically acclaimed. While both films deal with the ethnic conflict, 'Death on a Full Moon' can be regarded as one of the best films made to date by a Sri Lankan filmmaker.
Recent releases like 'Sooriya Arana', 'Samanala thatu', 'Hiripoda wessa' have attracted Sri Lankans to cinemas.'Sooriya Arana' was the highest grossing film in Sri Lankan cinema history, generating Rs.121 million at the box office. 'Aba', the forthcoming epic movie by Jackson Anthony will become the most expensive film produced in Sri Lanka costing over 60 million Rupees to produce. Several other countries such as China, Italy and Australia have shown interest in screening this film after its trailer was released. Among them China has shown special interest by considering dubbing it in Chinese. Aba will be released on 8th August, 2008.
Sri Lankan films are usually of Sinhalese language. Tamil language movies are also filmed in Sri Lanka but they are not part of Kollywood which is Indian Tamil cinema. However some Kollywood films are based in Sri Lanka as well.
MUSIC
The music of Sri Lanka originates in cultural traditions deriving from three influences: the religious practices of Buddhism, the aftereffects of Portuguese colonization, and the commercial and historical influence of Indian culture - specifically, Bollywood cinema. The Theravada sect of Buddhism has influenced Sri Lankan Music since Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka two millennia ago.
Portuguese colonizers arrived centuries after the Buddha, in the mid 1400s, bringing with them cantiga ballads, ukuleles and guitars; as well as African slaves (referred to, historically, as kaffrinhas), who brought with them a style of music now referred to as baila. The people of these two regions, and the musical traditions they brought with them, served to contribute further to the diverse musical roots of modern Sri Lankan music.
Since 1998, Many Pop/R&B groups have emerged in Sri Lanka - the most prominent of which is known as Bathiya and Santhush (these two musicians are considered pioneers in contemporary Sri Lankan pop, having begun performing in 1998 with female singer Ashanti and rapper Randhir). Among their accomplishments; they are the first Sri Lankan group to be signed to an international record label (Sony BMG), and were an integral component in the label's entrance into the nation's music industry in 2002/2003. They have received international awards for their compositions, and have performed in several countries - including on BBC radio in the UK. Chitral 'Chity' Somapala is an artist who lives in Germany and has his own Power Metal band called "Civilization One". He's the first artist who did a sinhalese sond which falls into Rock Music category, which is the theme song for "Lion Beer". The artist M.I.A. is an electric artist living in London who is of Sri Lankan ancestry. M.I.A. has recently reached acclaim in the United States. Other Western styles of music, such as rock and heavy metal, are also popular among the middle and upper class youth of the country.
ONLINE MEDIA
The use of the internet is a growing force within Sri Lanka primarily because of its high literacy rate. Many of the newspapers now have online editions. Because of the limited circulation for the daily and weekly newspapers, they are heavily dependent on advertising. As a result of this it is very rare to see Sri Lankan newspapers engage in investigative journalism or daring exposes of big business
News Websites
Sinhala 24 News - Sinhala Langugage News Aggregator
The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva -24Hrs Official Government News
News-Lanka- 24Hrs News Service. English
Nidahasa news- 24Hrs news. English
Sri lanka News portal. Sinhala/English
Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka - Matters related to defence and public security in Sri Lanka
LankaeNews - 24h news. sinhala/English
Sooriyan - Sooriyan News Service 24 Hrs
Lanka Business Online - 24h news with a strong focus on business and economy
Lanka Everything- 24h news
Lanka Academic - 24h news
Lanka Page
Lanka Herald
Lanka Web
Muslim Guardian - 24h news.
Vimasuma - 24h news, business and economic analysis in Sinhala
eThalaya - 24h news & sports in Sinhala
CENSORSHIP
The government of President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga, which was in power at the start of the twenty-first century, came into power on the basis of an Election Manifesto that promised fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the press. Censorship was re-imposed on June 5, 1998, when the war against the LTTE heated up and the government felt that "unfettered freedom" for the press resulted in newspapers carrying vital information that provided "tactical benefits" to the LTTE. This time, censorship applied to all reports relating to the war being fought in the north and east sections of the island. Local and international coverage of the war was prohibited, as was any discussion by the media of the actions of police and military officials. All reports, photographs, and videotapes were to pass a military censor, army general Jaliya Nammuni, the first time the government had appointed a such an overseer. Journalists were forbidden from entering the conflict zones, or, in the government's language, the "uncleared areas."
The censorship continued at the civilian level with the appointment of Ariya Rubasinghe as the chief censor and with the announcement of even tighter restrictions in November 1999. On June 30, 2000, a panel of three judges of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court unanimously nullified the appointment of a government censor or "competent Authority" in response to a fundamental rights petition filed by the newspaper group, Leader Publications, challenging the closure of the Sunday Leader and associated Sinhalese newspapers by the chief censor. The immediate reason for the action was the publication of an article in the Sunday Leader entitled "War in Fantasyland," which lampooned the government's censorship policy
Information controls in 2002 followed more subtle and less obvious methods. Thus, books, magazines, and videos were quietly banned without fanfare or publication of lists of banned materials. In the case of imported materials, the Customs and Excise officials quietly confiscated them on grounds that they were pornographic, offending traditional values or tenets of Theravada Buddhism. Political writings, even if they were critical of government policies, received far more tolerance than those affecting religion or family values.
Although the Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera had pledged that the censorship would be lifted before the parliamentary elections were announced, the government made no changes in the policy even after August 18, when the elections were announced for October 10; disappointingly for the press, no changes were made to the censorship policy. In September, the government suspended the additional censorship regulations imposed during the year.
STATE PRESS RELATIONSHIP
In order to facilitate relations with the press, the government has established the Sri Lanka Press Council. However, unlike most countries where the role of such a body is to protect the journalists and publishers, the Press Council in Sri Lanka is charged with the responsibility of protecting individual citizens who may have grievances against the press. Journalists look to their own unions, the most important of them being the Editors' Guild or the Free Media Movement, for readdress of their grievances.
Monday, December 29, 2008
The White Tiger
Arvind Adiga's debut novel 'The White Tiger' won the 2008 Man Booker Prize for fiction. This book is a tale of two Indias through the eyes of Balram, a son of a rickshaw puller, who narrates his journey from darkness to the hustling bustling life of sub urban area of Gurgaon in Delhi. Balram is a storng headed person who wont let the lack of education come in the way of his dream to lead a prosperous lfe in the future.He belongs to the majority of Indians who live a lowly life in the darkness where their basic necessities are snatched from time to time by the wealthy people. His job as a driver (cum cook cum house cleaner) at a welthy man's house in Gurgaon brings him face to face with the new India where city ouskirts are being turned into cocrete jungle and where one cannot do without bending to the corrupt system. In order to live his dream of being an entepreneur, he murders his master, steals the money and runs off to Bangalore. There he starts his own business with a new name and new identity.
The rise of a fourth grade drop out Balram from darkness to entepreneur success and his journey all along brings forward the unspoken, unaddressed issues of people living in darkness and the orthodox Indian families (rich and poor alike) that are being masked under the growing economic boom in India.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
a day in Pokhara..
eat a hearty thakali lunch as soon as you get to Pokahara
wake up to the majestic Machapuchre himal each morning
gush over the scenic beauty of Pokhara
try a different hat
try some more hats 
visit the popular caves
dry DAVIS Fall in the month of December
row your own boat at Phewa Taal
climb all the way to Peace Stupa
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