From Sri Lanka

An attempt by its government—a coalition of left-nationalists and Trotskyists (LSSP)—to muzzle the press has plunged the six-monthold Republic of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) into the first crisis under its strange new Constitution.

This Constitution established the Supreme Court, which is to advise the elected National Assembly whether proposed legislation will be in conflict with the Constitution. A bill to control the press, recently introduced by the government, was accordingly referred to the Court at the demand of the opposition (the United National party), the civil rights movement, and other groups. The petitioners alleged that the Bill contravenes freedom of the press which is guaranteed by the new Constitution, and th...