Jaffna journalists picket against Denmark funded Media Training Institute

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 August 2005, 10:00 GMT]
Journalists of all Tamil dailies in the Jaffna district and representatives of media associations held a picketing in front of the Denmark funded Media Training Institute (MTI) of the Jaffna University Thursday demanding the implementation of four demands put forward by the North Sri Lanka Journalists' Association (NSJA). The picketing which commenced around nine a.m. was called off by afternoon following an agreement reached at a discussion held later between the MTI and NSJA officials, sources said.

NSJA put forward four demands regarding the proposal of establishing a Press Club by the MTA. NSJA wanted the establishment of such a club should be undertaken in consultation with the Chief Editors of five Jaffna Tamil dailies Uthayan, Yarl Thinakural, Namathu Eelanadu, Valampuri and Eelanaatham from Killinochchi and the representatives of Jaffna based media institutions, sources said.

NSJA gave time till August 24 to fulfill their demands.

As the MTI authorities failed to give a positive response to these demands, journalists of Jaffna dailies and representatives of media institutions held the picketing, preventing students and officials to enter the MTI office to attend classes, sources said.

At the discussion held later the MTI officials agreed to implement the four demands. MTI officials signed an agreement in this regard. NSJA delegation led by its President Mr.S.Kathirgamathamby participated in the discussion. Professor A.Shanmugathas and, Director of MTI, Mr.Hendrick, Co-ordinator of the MTI also participated.