U.S. Embassy Deeply Concerned About Lanka-e-News Blockade

Embass of the United

States Sri Lanka & Maldive   (November 1, 2011)

November 1, 2011

The United States Embassy in Colombo is deeply concerned that the Internet news site Lanka-e-News has been blocked in Sri Lanka.  While the Embassy does not endorse the views of any particular media outlet, the United States believes that a free and independent media is vital to ensuring the health and continuation of any democracy.  Freedom of expression, including unfettered access to Internet news websites, is a basic right which must be respected. We therefore call on the Sri Lankan authorities and the managements of Sri Lankan telecommunications firms to stop activities aimed at blocking free access in Sri Lanka to all legitimate media websites, including Lanka-e-News. 

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