Government blocks 5 Tamil news sites

by admin
Jun 27, 2012

In the latest clampdown on press freedom, the Sri Lankan government has blocked access to five Tamil language news sites - TamilWin, Athirvu, Sarithan, Ponguthamil and Pathivu - making them no longer accessible through Sri Lankan internet service providers.

In November last year, the government blocked websites it believed were critical of Sri Lanka, after stating that all news websites must  register with the media ministry.

Last month, a case brought forward by the Free Media Movement to the Supreme Court against the government's blocking of Sinhala news websites was rejected.

The government's blocking of news websites has been condemned previously by the US and the EU.

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