Centre for Policy Alternatives on 15 June, 2009

Best practices and potential for improved information flows in media and civil society

This report, commissioned by HIVOS in November 2008, looks at the conditions favourable to and severely vitiating the potential of information flows in support of peace, human rights and democratic governance within and between civil society and mainstream media in Sri Lanka.

The report ends with three key annexes that critically analyse the media landscape in Sri Lanka, the legal and regulatory framework and enumerate concerns regarding the publications of human rights issues in mainstream media based on a large survey carried out by CPA in 2007.

The recommendations, analysis and broad overview of the media in Sri Lanka today must inform more sustained, larger and longer-term programmes to support media development in Sri Lanka that is independent of (yet responsive to) the vicissitudes of war making and peace building. Pegged only to peace when peace is dominant, initiatives to support media freedom and media development have largely failed to make an impact when war and violence are dominant. Addressing this deep-rooted systemic violence requires media and NGOs able to understand, adopt and adapt a spectrum of media and communications channels and techniques. It is to this end that this report looks at the state of play today and looks forward to stronger bonds between journalists and civil rights activists, and the NGOs they head or work with, in the future.

Download the report here.

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 4 June, 2009

Children in Advertising in Sri Lanka – A Media Study

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in collaboration with UNICEF organised a half-day consultative meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Children and Advertising in Sri Lanka on 1st August 2003. This consultative meeting was held to examine the complex interaction of relations between advertising, media and children – a topic on which there was very little informed debate in Sri Lanka. Recognising the market imperatives of advertising and also the need to safeguard the best interests of children, participants at the consultative grappled with the need to sensitise marketers and advertisers on the need to adhere to certain basic guidelines which are laid out in international covenants laying out the Rights of the Child. As was brought out at a consultative meeting, while the members of the Accredited Advertising Agencies Association (4A’s) spoke of the Association’s new code governing laying out self-regulatory guidelines for all its members, they questioned the commitment of ad agencies to any code of ethics and also flagged the need to focus specifically on children.

In the plenary discussions that followed, it was agreed that a study looking at Children and Advertising would also have to look at promotions and other marketing strategies as well. Some participants also felt there was a need to look at the entire spectrum of media and not just advertising when examining its effects on children. However, it was agreed that while a number of interventions and studies had concentrated on other aspects of the media, there research on children and advertising in Sri Lanka was abysmal. As such, it was also agreed that while a holistic perspective of the media was of pivotal importance in any study or intervention, a more focused examination of the impact of advertising on children was necessary as well.

This brief report and the related media monitoring exercise, conducted over 3 months in 2006, is the response to the needs and challenges articulated at the plenary session. It is in essence a first stab at establishing a greater awareness on and adherence to established codes of conduct relating to the use and portrayal of children in advertising, including the construction of content and messaging in advertisements and marketing directly aimed at children.

For a related report click here.

Children in Advertising in Sri Lanka – A Media Study
Children in Advertising in Sri Lanka – A Media Study
Children in Advertising in Sri Lanka – A Media Study

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 1 June, 2009

CPA receives threatening letter

CPA received this letter on 1st June 2009 via the post. The scanned Sinhala original is available as a PDF to download, along with the English translation.

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NOTICE TO THE TRAITORS (DESHADROHIS)
 
The wretched war that lasted throughout 30 years has now come to an end. Blood thirsty wicked terrorists were finished from this country. That happened in such a way that even their carcass didn’t mix with the Sri Lankan ( Lak Polawa ) soil. That is through the dedication of the present government, fearless military commanders and heroic warriors born in our motherland. And also, through the sacrifice of their bones, flesh and streams of blood. Furthermore, this was achieved by defeating the activities of the wretched traitors like you who commit evil things against “Mother Lanka”.
 
Even though the terrorism is now over we have been observing the behaviour of people like you who were dependent on them, and who appeared for them. We know that you have got furious of this marvelous victory of our motherland. And also we know about the conspiracies you engage in, even at the moment, in alliance with the International. When the entire country was enjoying the bliss of liberating the motherland you did not even hoist the National flag.
 
Now you (Thopa) also must get together for bestowing the honor for the warriors.
 
Parallel to “Ranaviru Upahara” (Honoring the Warriors) celebration you must,
 

  • Throughout that week you should close down all the places of your institute, which has become a bane to the entire country, and should display the National flag and also display a banner bestowing your honor to the warriors (Ranaviru).
  • You should donate One Million rupees to the “Api Venuven Api” account as an honor to those Warriors who were lost to the motherland and who got disabled due to your traitorous course of action.
  • Furthermore, you should certainly stop all the programmes conducted by your institute which are detrimental to the Sovereignty, Unitary nature, and Dignity of this country.
  • Stop abetting Terrorism and Separatism.

We are carefully watching your course of action in the future as well.
 
Let us destroy the conspirators. Let us march forward fearlessly. Let us protect Mother Lanka.
 
Sri Lankans affectionate towards the Motherland

CPA receives threatening letter