The Center for Journalism and Education (CJE) expresses its deep concern over the gazette notification issued on December 5, 2024, regarding the issuance of media accreditation to web journalists.
The gazette notification has made it mandatory for web journalists to register the websites they represent as business entities in order to be issued with a media accreditation. The organization stated in a statement that this decision is a grave injustice to a large number of independent web journalists who play a crucial role in diverse and impartial reporting and that it will make it impossible for them to carry out their work.
Many independent journalists do not commercialize their profession, but prioritize the integrity of their reporting over their independence and business interests. This decision clearly hinders their ability to practice their profession. Accordingly, the implementation of this gazette notification will have a significant impact on independent journalism in Sri Lanka, the statement further states.
The organization commends the government’s efforts to establish a formal criteria system for issuing media accreditation and ensure that they are issued to credible journalists, and calls for a reconsideration of specific regulations that unfairly affect independent journalists working on non-commercial platforms.
The statement states that the requirement of business registration as a prerequisite for a media accreditation deprives independent web journalists who do not have the resources or the intention to register as businesses, thereby undermining press freedom.
The Center for Journalism and Education (CJE) is a non-partisan and non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of journalism in Sri Lanka.