Thu, 02 September 2010  21:52:46
Censorship 2 Comment(s)
23 Mar, 2008 10:44:41
Sri Lanka using customs authorities to censor academics: report
Mar 23, 2008 (LBO) – Books written by academics based in Sri Lanka which were printed abroad had been seized by the island's customs authorities, in a move which could be a new form of censorship, a media report said.
The Sunday Times newspaper said a book by economic researcher Mutukrisna Sarvanandan, from the Point Pedro Institute of Development had been detained by Sri Lanka's customs authorities.

The book, 'Economy of Conflict Regions in Sri Lanka: From Embargo to Repression' had been published by the East West centre in the United States.

Another book by Rohan Samarajiva, from LirneAsia, a Colombo-based regional policy think tank, had been detained by customs from December.

Samarajiva's book, "ICT infrastructure in emerging Asia, Policy and Regulatory roadblocks" released by the Indian unit of academic publishing house, Sage, was launched in India in December.

Sri Lanka's customs chief Sarath Jayathilake was quoted in the report as saying that the detention was not brought to his attention and he was not aware why the books were seized.

"We usually detain these books if it’s a matter of security and we refer them to Defence (Ministry) or the Government Information Department," Jayathilake was quoted as saying.

The LirneAsia publication had a chapter on telecommunications usage in the Jaffna peninsular.

"Our book has nothing about the conflict, other than a single chapter that I co-authored on teleuse between the wars in the government areas of Jaffna," Samarajiva wrote in the LirneAsia website, questioning what moral or legal right Sri Lanka customs had to censor academic works.

The academics were planning to go to court if the books were not released.

The book is available on online at the International Development Research Centre ( link ) a Canada-based think thank.

It is reported that other works, including one authored by a scholar from a state university had also been detained.

Sri Lanka's customs authorities have wide powers to search, detain and confiscate imported goods.

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READER COMMENT(S)
2. Souhtern Star Front Mar 31
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.

- Martin Niemöller

Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was an early supporter of Hitler who had to face repression from his mentor in the late years of of the holacaust.

This poem written by him is well-known, frequently quoted, and is a popular model for describing the dangers of political apathy, as it often begins with specific and targeted fear and hatred which soon escalates out of control.

It is time up for the Sri Lankans too to transform this poem to a version of their own.

1. Priyantha Mar 25
Ref. your article, as an honest academic, I like to say that there are many academics who are pathological liars and criminals turning fiction into facts with vested interests.

Such academics should be punished not just by preventing distribution of false documents, but by confiscating all their property and removing the citizenship including of close blood relations. Lanka need to create a exclusive zone or a mini-city to hold them outside the society until they are sent to where they belong.

Forcing them to seek refugee status is a good option because they will be self-tortured during their lifetime. Please remember that the English educated are repeaters who have no ethical values.