Sri Lanka will work with the international community, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to prevent crimes against journalists from going unpunished, government sources said today.
The Sri Lankan Minister of Finance and Media, Mangala Samaraweera, made the remarks at the beginning of a regional UNESCO conference that promotes freedom of expression and the rule of law in Asia, through impunity for crimes against the press that takes place in Colombo.
Samaraweera commented that Sri Lanka's election to host the event is because their country was once an unsafe place for journalists, and they had a lot of work ahead to close investigations of crimes against that sector.
This is an important occasion to renew our commitment to justice, in memory of all silenced journalists, and to recognize the importance of a free and independent environment for peace, development, and good governance in our country, Samaraweera added.
He added that debates on the judicial role, national human rights commissions, civil society and the media are an opportunity to share experiences and best practices in the region.
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