Fair, balanced and independent media is essential to good governance, effective public administration and the achievement of a durable and democratic peace in Sri Lanka.

A professional media with a responsibility to the public interest is the crucial focus of the series of checks and balances central to a healthy democracy.

As Sri Lankan citizens groups have been campaigning for public service media, we now call on politicians, public authorities, civil society and all media groups to unite around a program to enhance public service values in Sri Lanka's media.

We note that as a consequence of partisan politicization of institutions over the last four decades what is referred to as state media in Sri Lanka is essentially government controlled media. We strongly urge that the media institutions so defined be transformed into genuinely public service media institutions as a matter of priority.

Please download the attachment for the full public appeal.