Associated Press correspondent penalised for his war coverage
RSF has called on the Sri Lankan government to give a more convincing explanation about its refusal to renew the press visa of Associated Press correspondent Ravi Nessman.
Violent attacks against media continue post-conflict
The members of the Press Freedom Mission, including seven IFEX members, wrote an open letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, expressing grave concern over the deterioration of press freedom despite the recent military victory in the country.
Government continues attacks against independent media, lawyers
The government is continuing its offensive against independent news media, blocking domestic access to a news website and smearing lawyers who are representing a leading newspaper.
Newspaper employees receive death threats
A hitherto unknown group calling itself the Tamil United Force to Safeguard the Country has threatened to kill all the employees of the newspaper “Uthayan”.
Government revives harsh press law
IFJ condemns government’s decision to revive press council.
Police interrogate two newspaper editors about their sources
Officers from the Colombo Crimes Division questioned two editors in an attempt to force them to reveal their sources.
Thirty IFEX members call on government to protect journalists and end impunity
Free expression advocates from around the world gathered this week in Oslo, Norway, at the IFEX General Meeting. Thirty IFEX members signed on to a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, calling on him to “stop the war on journalists”.
Journalists trying to cover fate of Tamils threatened, obstructed
Most of the Sri Lankan media have not sent reporters to the Tamil areas. The press have only managed to get into these areas when there have been visits by Sri Lankan and international officials.
Another journalist attacked
The general secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Poddala Jayantha, was abducted in Sri Lanka today, beaten, and dropped by the side of a road in a Colombo suburb.
Army holding three doctors for “providing false information” to the media
RSF urges the Sri Lankan authorities to quickly release three Tamil doctors who have been arrested for providing the news media with information about the humanitarian situation in Vanni.
IFJ deplores deportation of news team
(IFJ/IFEX) – May 11, 2009 – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) deplores the Sri Lankan Government’s continuing efforts to block free and independent media reporting from the country’s war zone, following the deportation of three British media workers on May 10. Reporter Nick Paton Walsh, producer Bessie Du and cameraman Matt Jasper, all of […]
Parliamentarian threatens online journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the telephone threats that have been made against reporter Santha Wijesuirya of the Lankaenews website and his editor, Bennet Rupasingha, by parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa, the leader of the National Freedom Front. Weerawansa reportedly called Wijesuirya on his mobile phone on the evening of 6 May 2009 to […]
RSF welcomes release of editor N. Vithyatharan
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders welcomed the release of editor of the Tamil daily “Sudar Oli”, N. Vithyatharan, who had been held by police since 26 February 2009, accused of having links with Tamil Tiger rebels. On 24 April, a court in Colombo ordered the journalist’s release. The Colombo Criminal Division (CCD) in charge of […]
RSF calls for journalists to be allowed into area where “major humanitarian crisis” is unfolding
Reporters Without Borders reminds the Sri Lankan government of its international undertakings as the media continue to be prevented from moving about freely in the north of the country, especially in the area where tens of thousands of Tamils are surrounded by the army.
RSF denounces “disgraceful” impunity three months after journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga’s murder
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of an 8 April 2009 RSF press release: “Disgraceful failure to identify those responsible for newspaper editor’s murder three months ago Reporters Without Borders has gathered information from various sources that supports the theory that the Sri Lankan authorities are blocking the investigation into the murder of […]
IFJ welcomes UNESCO press freedom award to slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an 8 April 2009 IFJ media release: IFJ Welcomes Press Freedom Prize to Lasantha Wickrematunge The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has today welcomed the UNESCO decision to award posthumously the World Press Freedom Prize for 2009 to Lasantha Wickrematunge of Sri Lanka. Lasantha, editor of the Sunday Leader, was […]