theindependent.lk complaints to HRC over blockade Thursday, 29
May 201!ditor o" theindependent.lk #ebsite, $ubhash %aya#ardhana,
lod&ed a complaint #ith theHumanRi&htsCommissiontoday'29(
thatthe #ebsitehasbeenblocked"rom access "rom all local vie#ers by
all local internet service providin& companies.He says in the
complaint that it is a violation o" "undamental ri&hts
&ranted by 1'1('a( o" the constitution #ith re&ard to
"reedom o" e)pression, and also the ri&ht to en&a&e in
a pro"ession to one*s likin& and the "reedom "rom unla#"ul
arrest.+,-*s united leadership council chairman .aru %ayasuriya,
#ho participated at the handover o" the petition, said
theindependent.lk #as the ei&hth #ebsite to be blocked by the
&overnment #hich is increasin&ly denyin& the people*s
ri&ht o" access to in"ormation./t is a violation o" the
common#ealth charter #hich &ives special place to the "reedom
o" e)pression and the ri&ht o" access to in"ormation, in the
very same country #hich has the chair o" the Common#ealth, he
said.0lso present on the occasion #ere +,- &eneral secretary
Tissa 0ttanayake, M- Man&ala $amara#eera, 1rontline $ocialist
-arty*s propa&anda secretary -ubudu %aya&oda, +nited
$ocialist 1ront*s leader $irithun&a %ayasuriya, o#ner o" the
#ebsite 2iana 3ama&e and representatives o" civil society and
media or&ani4ations.The petitionThe -etition handed over to the
Human Ri&hts Commission o" $ri 5anka by $ubhash %aya#ardhana,
editor in chie" o" 6The
/ndependent.lk7...................................................................................................-etitioner8,ame8
$ubhash 9eerathun&a %aya#ardhana, !ditor:in:chie",
6theindependent.lk7 #ebsite0ddress8 ,o.;20, .otte Road, !thul
.otte, .otte.Respondents81. ,ame8 5alith 9eerathun&a, Chairman,
Telecommunications Re&ulations Commission0ddress8 ,o.2,
.irulapana 0ve, -olhen&oda, Colombo ?. ,ame8 Charitha Herath,
$ecretary, Ministry o" mass media and in"ormation.0ddress8
,o.1=>, .irulapana 0ve, -olhen&oda, Colombo ??. ,ame8 ,imal
9el&ama, Chairman, $ri 5anka Telecom0ddress8 T-.?0>, 5otus
Rd, Colombo 1.=. ,ame8 5alith 2e $ilva, Chie" !)ecutive @""icer,
$ri 5anka Telecom0ddress8 T-.?0>, 5otus Rd, Colombo 1.
