IFJ calls for better working conditions

Mission members with Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe  (Sri Lanka Brief)

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliates the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Sri Lankan Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) have called for more dialogue and discussion on improving working conditions for journalists in Sri Lanka if the country is to rebuild a strong, robust and professional media industry in the country.

The IFJ joined the International Media Assessment Mission to Sri Lanka from May 8 to 14 to follow-up on its recent assessments of media freedom situation since the January 8 presidential election. During discussions with government officials, the Right to Information Act (RTI) was also vigorously discussed.

The IFJ in a statement said: "There is an urgent and present need to build the capacity of journalists and their right to advocate as an industry on working conditions as well as on press freedom issues in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Importantly, efforts need to be made to bring journalists and their employers together to discuss and engage on the future of the industry."