In a statement issued on Friday referring to a release by the Free Media Movement (FMM) stating that a Canadian journalist has been asked “to provide a ‘letter of agreement’ as a Sri Lanka visa condition”, the ministry said “foreign media personnel are welcome to Sri Lanka at any time”.

Prior approval  Only film makers were so far required to obtain prior approval and not documentary film makers   Sunanda Deshapriya, FMM

However, the ministry added that foreign documentary film makers “need to obtain prior approval as per the procedure laid down by the National Film Corporation”.

The statement stressed that there has been no new procedures put in place by the authorities.

But the Free Media Movement (FMM) insists that only film makers were so far required to obtain prior approval and not documentary film makers.

Documentary makers  Foreign media personnel with the objective of making documentary films need to obtain prior approval as per the procedure laid down by the National Film Corporation   Sri Lanka foreign ministry

FMM convener Sunanda Deshapriya told bbcsinhala.com that attempts to impose restrictions on Canadian documentary maker Steve Schmit adversely affect the transparency and accountability of post-tsunami reconstruction efforts.

FMM said the journalist from Global TV Canada has been asked by the Sri Lankan embassy in Ottawa to sign a letter of agreement with certain restrictions prior to the issuance of his visa.