Sanjeewa Niroshana, a photojournalist for the “Lankadipa” newspaper, was assaulted by employees of the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, where he had gone to cover the trial of a prominent Buddhist monk. A statement by the Court Registrar which was issued following the incident made it clear that employees of the Court had been directly involved. […]
Sanjeewa Niroshana, a photojournalist for the “Lankadipa”
newspaper, was assaulted by employees of the Colombo Fort
Magistrate’s Court, where he had gone to cover the trial of a
prominent Buddhist monk.
A statement by the Court Registrar which was issued following the
incident made it clear that employees of the Court had been
directly involved. At the same time, however, the Registrar
justified the assault by saying that Niroshana had acted
illegally by attempting to take photographs on the Court’s
premises.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
responsible to justice
had acted illegally may simply be an attempt to protect those
responsible for the assault
resurgence of attacks on the media, which occurred frequently
during the previous administration
Appeals To
Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
President
Office of the President
Galle Face
Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 44 6657/54 6657/33 3702/33 3703
Lakshman Kadirgamar
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic Building
Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 43 0220
Dharmasiri Senanayake
Minister of Media, Tourism & Aviation
Ministry of Media, Tourism & Aviation
45 St. Michael’s Road
Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 54 1364
Chief Justice G.P.S de Silva
Superior Courts Complex
Colombo 12, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 43 7536 (attention: Supreme Court Registrar)
Mr. W.B. Rajaguru
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters
Colombo 1, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 44 6174/44 6617
Copies to:
Ranil Wickremasinghe
Leader of the Opposition
United National Party
“Sri Kotha”
400 Kotte Road
Pitakotte, Sri Lanka
Fax: +94 1 68 3661/86 5380
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
