Sri Lanka

“We call on the government and the police authorities to inform the public about the current status of the investigation into the disappearance of Ekneligoda,” said FMM.

Gamini Pushpakumara was summarily dismissed from his employment after presidential elections in January and has since left his home town of Horana for safety reasons.

RSF calls on the authorities to stop blocking Lanka News Web.

IFJ called for an investigation after a threatening letter was sent to the Colombo office of Lanka-e-News.

An unconditional pardon for the journalist has been a key step demanded by the IFJ as an indicator of the government’s commitment to press freedom.

“We hope his arrival in the US is a step by the government to address its harsh policies toward the media,” CPJ said.

In preparing the special report, CPJ spoke with journalists, diplomats, government officials, and international media support workers in Colombo and Jaffna.

The judge nonetheless ordered Ruwan Weerakoon to present himself to police every week.

Keheliya Rambukwella, a former government spokesman on defence issues, was named media minister on 5 May.

Tissainayagam’s attorneys were not notified of the pardon prior to the announcement, leaving several questions about the official details.

Mervyn Silva’s appointment comes at a time of considerable hostility towards press freedom, said RSF.

CRNI also supports the peaceful demonstrations in Colombo calling for political accountability and relief from the growing harassment of journalists.

Unknown assailants attacked the station’s offices in downtown Colombo with stones on 22 March 2010.

As a defense correspondent, the journalist had a close association with General Sarath Fonseka during the last phase of the war with the LTTE.

In an open letter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, IFJ expresses grave concern over reports of a journalists “blacklist”.

In a meeting with CPJ, the attorney general promised the government would guarantee the safety of journalists returning from exile.