The Sri Lanka government has outright rejected the charge that government is imposing censorship on war related media coverage. Addressing a gathering in London former military spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, said that Sri Lankan government and military are maintaining good working relationship with media personnel.

The gathering titled "Professionalism, peace reporting and journalists' safety in Sri Lanka" was attended by international and Sri Lankan media and human rights organisations.

Samarasinghe, who is currently the Counsellor at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, made the comments as journalists from international organisations gathered in London to access media freedom in Sri Lanka.

Journalists and activists gathered there, brought allegations against the Colombo government that it has imposed an unofficial censorship on war-related matters.

"Every journalist who reports Tamil Tigers' point of view is considered as a terrorist," David Dadge, Deputy Director of International Press Institute (IPI), told the gathering.

He said polarisation alongside ethnic lines in Sri Lankan media is another major obstacle in objective reporting.

Director of Paris based World Editors Forum (WEF), Bertrand Pecquerie, said Sri Lanka journalists are prevented from being professionals because of fear caused by a war like situation.

"As international media personnel we need to go to Sri Lanka and help them to be more professional," he added.

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