COLOMBO, December 5, 2023 - This is a letter from Karuppiah Ramakrishnan, President, Professional Sports Journalists of Sri Lanka, informing the AIPS President Gianni Merlo about the ban of sports journalists by Sri Lanka Football.

Dear President,

I am writing to inform you that Sri Lanka Football has taken the decision to ban journalists from covering the football event in Sri Lanka. As an avid supporter of the freedom of the press and the vital role journalists play in informing the public, I find this development troubling and counterproductive to the principles of transparency and accountability. When querying the President of Sri Lanka Football, Mr. Jaswer Umar said they will only allow the journalists who have only convoy massage infamous of the current committee, and if somebody shows consecutive criticism, they will be banned by Sri Lanka Football. I was speaking to the vice presidents of Sri Lanka Football, namely Ranjith Rodrigo and Manil Fernando, and both stated that the committee has full rights to ban or allow journalists during their tenure.

The role of journalists in covering sporting events goes beyond merely reporting scores and outcomes. They provide valuable insights into the athletes' stories, the dynamics of the games, and the impact of the events on the community. By restricting journalists from fulfilling their duties, we risk losing the diverse perspectives and comprehensive coverage that contribute to the richness of the sports narrative.

Sports journalists should be free from undue influence or interference in their reporting. Editorial independence is crucial for maintaining the integrity of journalism.

I’m also president of the Professional Sports Journalists Association of Sri Lanka and have covered a lot of major sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, ICC events, and FIFA and AFC events too.

Sports journalists, like all journalists, have the right to express their opinions and report on events without censorship, provided they adhere to ethical standards and legal boundaries.
 

Karuppiah Ramakrishnan
President, Professional Sports Journalists of Sri Lanka