What we do:
The PCCSL provides a voluntary self regulatory method to resolve inaccuracies that may occur in newspapers, magazines, journals and online editions of newspapers. Bound by the Editors’ Code, the PCCSL resolves complaints in a FAST,FREE and FAIR procedure.
The Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka (PCCSL) is a voluntary self-regulatory mechanism inaugurated
on October 15, 2003 by the media industry following an international conference whose outcome was the Colombo
Declaration on Press Freedom and Social Responsibility of 1998 and re-visited in 2008 and 2018.
The international seminar held in Colombo in 1998 was organized by the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka,
The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka and the Free Media Movement in association with the Sri Lanka Working Journalists
Association, the World Association of Newspapers, the Commonwealth Press Union, the International Press Institute,
Article 19 and the Media Institute of Southern Africa.
It works on the principles of conciliation, mediation and arbitration under the Arbitration Act No 11 of 1995.
The High Court of Colombo is empowered to enforce an arbitration award made under the Act; in the event a newspaper
fails to publish the decision of the Dispute Resolution Council of the PCCSL should a complainant wish to
pursue a case where the editor is not abiding by the arbitral decision.
VISION
To promote the Code of Professional Practice of The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka as a means towards promoting self-regulation in the print media while emphasizing its importance towards ethical reporting in building a socially responsible press; to resolve disputes between the print media and the public through conciliation, mediation, arbitration and to advocate for a more responsible media.
MISSION
To be the leader in Self-Regulation in Sri Lanka and the South Asia region.
OBJECTIVES
To provide an effective mechanism to readers in resolving complaints fast, free and fair and to promote good
professional practices.
Board of Directors
Mr. Kumar Nadesan
nominee of SLPI
Mr. Nimal Welgama
Mr. Sinha Ratnatunga
Mr. Manik de Silva
Mr. Sunil Jayasekara
Mr. Lakshman Muthuthanthirge
Mr. Siri Ranasinghe
Mr. M. N. Ameen
Mr. Mohanlal Piyadasa
Dispute Resolution Council
The Dispute Resolution Council (DRC) of the PCCSL comprises 11 members six of whom represent
civil society including an Attorney-at-Law who is also the Chairman. The balance five are senior journalists.
The Chairman is former Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Nihal Seneviratne. The other
civil society members are:
Mr. Javid Yusuf, Mr. Dion Schoorman, Mr. Lucille Wijewardene, Prof. Lasita Devendra and Miss. Dinali Fernando.
Mr. Nihal Seneviratne
Chairman
Mr. Javid Yusuf
Mr. Dion Schoorman
Mr. Lucille Wijewardene
Prof. Lasita Devendra
Miss. Dinali Fernando
The journalist members are: Mr. Siri Ranasinghe, Mr. Pramod de Silva, Mr. P. Balasingham, Mr. D. M. L. Andree and Mr. Nilantha Madurawala
Mr. Siri Ranasinghe
Mr. Pramod de Silva
Mr. P. Balasingham
Mr. D. M. L. Andree
Mr. Nilantha Madurawala
PCCSL Secretariat
Sukumar Rockwood
Chief Executive Officer
Complaints Officer – English
Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka
The Constituant Members of the PCCSL
The Constituant members of the PCCSL are Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka, The Editors Guild of Sri Lanka, Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Sri Lanka Press Institute
Other Affiliated Media Organizations of the PCCSL
Other affiliated media organizations are, Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Alliance, Federation of Media Employees Trade Union, South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA)
The press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka holds 'Observer Status' with the Alliance of Independant Press Council of Europe.
