By Xinhua
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse decided to revoke with immediate effect a gazette notification issued earlier Wednesday imposing a military news censorship, a top official said.
“The president has decided to revoke the gazette. He expects the media to act responsibly,” Chandrapala Liyanage, president’s advisor for media, said.
The government gazette was issued Wednesday barring the media from disseminating information on military operations or information with regard to the procurement of military equipment.
The violating editors were to be subject to a jail term not less than three years in addition to fines.
“The president later decided that existing laws are enough to deal with anyone who acts irresponsibly, so there is no need for a censorship,” Liyanage said.
The gazette came to be issued as the government last week withdrew broadcasting licenses of five radio channels for irresponsible dissemination of incorrect information.
The government had a similar news censorship during 2000-2001 at the height of a military campaign against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).