🚨 SLWJA Condemns Parliamentary Summons of BBC Journalists

• Key Incident: The Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) has strongly condemned the decision to summon two BBC Sinhala Service journalists—producer Ishara Dhanasekara and journalist Sampath Dissanayake—before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee on July 23 at 2:00 p.m. • Reason for Summons: The order followed a complaint by MP Lakmali Hemachandra under instructions from the Speaker, regarding BBC Sinhala’s coverage of a Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus meeting. The meeting involved questioning National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) officials over delayed police probes into child abuse allegations involving Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera. • SLWJA Stance & Impact: • Termed the move as "media repression," intimidation, and a serious threat to freedom of speech and media independence. • Highlighted that the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus is an informal body lacking legal authority. • Alleged the government is misusing parliamentary privileges to curtail press freedom and conceal administrative failures. • Call to Action: The association demanded the immediate withdrawal of the summons and urged media bodies, civil society, and the public to unite against repressive actions threatening democracy and transparency.