To those boys and girls of the Kept Press who go into whoops of joy and dance for whatever new that the government announces, this would be cheerful news. This move to have a civilian censor could be an insidious move not only against independent reportage of the North-East Conflict but also reportage of the forthcoming provincial councils election campaigns. Although the military censorship was imposed for for prohibiting transfer of sensitive military information, the emergency regulations that come under the purview of the civilian censor is not clear. Nor are reasons given why suddenly a civilian censor has been brought in. Whether censors can be 'civil' in mannerisms or while wielding the red pencil is doubtful because in Sri Lanka the experience has been that civilian censors often pass reports concerning military matters to the military boys in uniform in the back rooms for approval.
Civilian censors are mere rubber stamps of the khaki clad boys.
The only exception was the first censor appointed after the 1983 riots, the all powerful Mr. Douglas Liyanage, who was also Secretary to the Information Minister Mr. Anandatissa De Alwis. Thus, the appointment of the genial Director of Information Mr. Ariya Rubasinghe, we sadly say, will make no difference in reportage of military matters, even if the the parameters of censorship hitherto enforced remained the same. Mr. Rubasinghe has been presented with a broad canvass to wield the red pencil. This blanket provision provides a legal cover to all members of the services and police for whatever misdemeanour, crime or stupidity that they commit. This provision is the last in the list of subjects that media personnel are proscribed from reporting.