Attacks on the Press in 2007: Sri Lanka
Attacks on the Press in 2007: Sri Lanka
Media union files petition to prevent political interference and intimidation of journalists working with media outlets belonging to government-owned ANCL
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Sri Lanka Media Union Demands End to Political Intervention in State Media The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) supports the Lake House Employee’s Union (LHEU) in filing a Fundamental Rights petition to prevent political interference and intimidation of journalists working with media outlets belonging to the […]
20 IFEX members and other organisations appeal to president to “Stop the War on Journalists”
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a joint letter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa by 20 IFEX members and other organisations: Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa President, Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka c/o Office of the President Temple Trees 150, Galle Road Colombo 3, Sri Lanka E-mail: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk Dear President Mahinda Rajapaksa, RE: Stop the War […]
Freedom of the Press 2007: Sri Lanka
Freedom of the Press 2007: Sri Lanka
Journalist, press owners still detained by TID without explanation
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM pres release: On continued detention of Tamil journalist Tissainayagam The Free Media Movement is concerned about the continued detention of Tamil journalist Tissainayagam and of Mr. and Mrs. Jesiharan, the owners of E-Kwality Press on whose premises Mr. Tissainayagam had the offices of his website OutreachSL ( http://www.outreachsl.com/ […]
Former general’s appointment to key media post signifies militarisation of media, threat to state media’s independence, says FMM
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 21 March 2008 FMM press release: Another nail in the coffin: The open militarisation of State-owned media in Sri Lanka 21 March 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Free Media Movement (FMM) is outraged that the government has appointed retired Army Major General Sunil Silva as Additional Director General […]
Notorious government minister threatens violence against television journalists
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 22 March 2008 FMM press release: Retrograde Government MP threatens media again 22nd March 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Free Media Movement (FMM) is deeply disturbed to hear that, on 20 March 2008, government MP and Minister of Labour Mervyn Silva, notorious for threatening media outlets and journalists, […]
IFJ concerned as retired general appointed to senior position at state broadcaster SLRC
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Three Journalists Released as Military Man Appointed to SLRC The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned that Sri Lanka’s government has appointed a recently retired army Major General to a senior position at the troubled state broadcaster, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC). The appointment […]
Three journalists released by Terrorist Information Department; two remain in custody
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by FMM and four other Sri Lankan media organisations: Three journalists released 19th March / Colombo – We, the five media organizations of Sri Lanka, are pleased to report that three journalists who have been in the custody of Terrorist Information Department (TID) were released this […]
Army seizes control of public SLRC television: staff put on “compulsory vacation”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called for an explanation from President Mahinda Rajapakse after the army took control of public Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) television on 17 March 2008. The army and police sealed off all roads leading to the station in the morning, preventing more than 200 staff from getting to work, […]
Journalists’ home ransacked
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Two journalists intimidated The Free Media Movement expresses its serious concern over the ransacking of the residence of two well-known journalists by an unknown gang on 16 March 2008. The two journalists – Sunethra Athugalpura of “Lakbima” newspaper and her husband, Sirasa TV News Producer Sashi […]
Threatened journalist’s father, sister seriously injured by attackers threatening to kill her if she returns from hiding
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Family of Threatened Journalist Seriously Injured in Attack in Sri Lanka The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns an attack on the family home of journalist Munusami Parameshwari, in which her father and sister were seriously injured. According to the Free Media Movement (FMM), an IFJ […]
IFJ rejects government’s proposed national media policy, stresses need for independent media framework
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an 11 March 2008 IFJ media release: Sri Lanka Needs Independent Free Media Policy The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) rejects the Sri Lankan Government’s proposed national media policy in favour of a self-generated, self-regulated and independent framework that encompasses journalists from all sides of the nation’s conflict. According to […]
Another SLRC journalist attacked, admitted to hospital with injuries
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Continuing attacks against journalists in Sri Lanka require Presidential intervention 14 March 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) is outraged at yet another murderous attack on a journalist at the State owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) on 14 March. Journalist Arunasiri Hettige, […]
Detained Tamil journalists badly beaten by police
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the fate of five Tamil journalists arrested by anti-terrorist police in Colombo in the past six days and urges the Sri Lankan authorities to explain why they are being held. “The anti-terrorist police are accusing the journalists of receiving money from the Tamil Tiger rebels, but after […]
Journalists detained and questioned by Terrorist Investigations Department
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 8 March 2008 FMM press release: Number of journalists arrested; one journalist released after questioning. 8 March 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Free Media Movement (FMM) is concerned about the arrest and questioning of a number of journalists on 7 and 8 March 2008. Some were held incommunicado […]