Prior notification required for journalists arriving in the country – Foreign Ministry

While clarifying the position of the Government of Sri Lanka which led to non-issuance of a letter recommending that "media accreditation" be granted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Mr. Gerrit Jan Rohmensen, a Dutch passport holder arrived in Sri Lanka today (06), the Ministry informs that a media personnel should make the request prior to his or her arrival in to Sri Lanka.
Issuing a statement the Ministry of Foreign affairs informs that any foreign Media Personnel visiting Sri Lanka must contact Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Communication Division for Press Accreditations.In the case cited, the said journalist had obtained a tourist visa on arrival in the island. He had subsequently sought the intervention of the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Sri Lanka to obtain media accreditation. He had submitted articles written by him in Dutch, but the ministry claims that the English translations themselves were 'laced with heavy doses of Dutch words'.