(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 2 July 2006 FMM press release: Journalist shot dead in Colombo The Free Media Movement (FMM) expresses its shock and sorrow at the abduction and murder of freelance journalist Sampath Lakmal de Silva by an unknown group on 2 July 2006. He was abducted at 5:00 a.m. (local time) […]
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 2 July 2006 FMM press release:
Journalist shot dead in Colombo
The Free Media Movement (FMM) expresses its shock and sorrow at the abduction and murder of freelance journalist Sampath Lakmal de Silva by an unknown group on 2 July 2006. He was abducted at 5:00 a.m. (local time) from his parents’ home in Borallasgamuwa, south of Colombo. He was found shot dead three kilometres from his home.
FMM condemns the killing in the strongest terms.
De Silva worked in a number of media institutions as a full-time journalist until April 2006. He was the defence correspondent of the weekly “Sathdina” before becoming a freelance journalist.
FMM does not condone the involvement of journalists in party politics or in military activities. FMM condemns this murder on the grounds of every individual’s right to life and a journalist’s right to gather and disseminate information.
Although FMM does not accuse any group for this killing, it notes with concern that the numbers of unresolved murders of journalists in the country is increasing. Six media workers, including four journalists, have been killed in the last 16 months. No such killings have been investigated or resolved for the last 20 years in Sri Lanka.
