RaajjeTV briefs diplomatic community about threats against journalists
A team from the station sat in at a meeting between diplomats in the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States of America
RaajjeTV's headoffices in capital city Malé
Raajje Television has briefed various foreign missions in Sri Lanka and discussed threats against the station and the conditions currently facing local journalists.
A team from the station sat in at a meeting between diplomats in the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States of America – which was chaired by Paul Godfrey, deputy head of the European Union delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The station’s team had discussed the recent hefty fines placed against it, which it has described to be highly politicized, and other threats against its journalists and the local press.
The team said that the meeting was constructive and that all participants had agreed to bring forth the station's and the local media's concern in global discussion.
The European Union had mentioned the predictions over the crminalization of defamation as well.
Second Secretary Philippe Dickinson and Ahmed Zaki from the British High Commission, Vishma Wickramawardana – the press officer with the German embassy, Chritian Kuitert from the Embassy of Netherlands, Deputy Head of the Canadian mission Jennifer Hart, political officer Sucherta Sharma from the US Embassy, and press officer Kanishka Ratnapriya from the Embassy of Switzerland had participated in the meeting.
The Maldives Broadcasting Commission, earlier this month, fined Raajje Television by MVR 1 million for remarks made about President Abdulla Yameen at an opposition rally broadcast live by the station.
The station had recently paid a MVR 200,000 fine, also imposed under the defamation law, for a report it prepared about a gender ministry official influencing an investigation to allegations of rape.
