Sri Lanka media rights activists decry new anti-terror laws
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Media rights activists are urging the Sri Lankan government to withdraw proposed anti-terror legislation, calling it is a set of draconian laws aimed at suppressing the media freedom and democratic rights.
The new Counter-Terrorism bill approved by the cabinet of ministers is now before the Parliament. A date has yet to be announced for a debate and a vote on the bill, which the government says would repeal the existing tough anti-terror law.
C. Dodawatta, convener of the Free Media Movement, a local media rights group, said the proposed law could be used to arrest and detain journalists for distributing or making available any information to the public.
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Journalists also could be arrested for not revealing their sources under the new law.