Sri Lanka

(FMM/IFEX) – Please note, in the previous version of this alert the title mentioned that five journalists were charged with contempt of court, however only three journalists were actually charged. The IFEX Clearing House apologises for the error. The following is a 7 June 2006 FMM press release: The Free Media Movement welcomes the 7 […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: The Free Media Movement welcomes the 7 June 2006 Supreme Court decision to terminate the proceedings in five contempt of court charges against the editor-in-chief of “The Sunday Leader”, Lasantha Wickrematunge, and two of its journalists, Amantha Perera and Frederica Jansz. Contempt of court charges were […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: May 31, 2006 IFJ says hate speech attacks in Sri Lanka “particularly worrisome and dangerous” The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned about recent death threats and public hate speech attacking journalists in Sri Lanka. “The labeling of independent journalists as being politically aligned […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: The Free Media Movement wishes to express its concern regarding a decision by the President to order the Public Performances Board to ban the film “The Da Vinci Code”, as reported in the “Daily News” on 25 May 2006. The report goes on to say that […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Trainee Tamil journalists harassed and kept in police station for hours On 24 May 2006, three Tamil-language trainee journalists of the Sri Lanka College of Journalism (SLCJ) were harassed by students protesting recent violent activities by the Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The trainees […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 16 May 2006 FMM press release: Discussion with S.P. Tamilselvam, head of the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE), on warning to Tamil journalists in the state-controlled media Today a group of journalists representing Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, the Federation of Media Employees trade […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by FMM, SLWJA, FMEATU and SLMMF: Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) Federation of Media Employees Trade Unions (FMEATU) Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum ( SLMMF) Free Media Movement (FMM) Four journalist’s organisations condemn the warning by a group identifying itself as the “Ravana Battalion”, calling […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 4 May 2006 IFJ media release: Female journalist arrested at UNESCO Word Press Freedom Day conference in Sri Lanka The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned over the decision by Sri Lankan authorities to arrest and remand a female journalist on suspicion of association with terrorist activities at […]

(FMM/IFEX) – Free Media Movement (FMM) is shocked to report that “Uthyan”, the Tamil-language daily newspaper with the largest circulation in the capital of Jaffna, was attacked by unknown gunmen, resulting in the death of two media workers on the eve of World Press Freedom Day. According to reports coming from Jaffna, five gunmen entered […]

(FMM/IFJ/RSF/IFEX) – The following is a joint media release by the Free Media Movement (FMM), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters sans frontières (RSF): Tamilnet editor’s murder still unpunished after one year Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Sri Lanka Free Media Movement (FMM) have all voiced […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Letter of Fire under government fire The Free Media Movement (FMM), established to safeguard the freedom of expression of all media, journalists and artists in Sri Lanka, is seriously concerned about the possible ban of Ashoka Handagama’s film “Aksharaya” (“Letter of Fire”) by the Ministry of […]

(FMM/IFEX) – Journalist Claude Gurubavila and lawyer Manoj Thilanga, who presented a weekly political review called “Deshapalana Sathiya” on Sawarnavahini TV were threatened around midnight (local time) of 24 February 2006. Two armed persons emerged from a black van at a stop light, aiming a pistol at them and mentioning the program they presented. Both […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 February CPJ letter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Anton Balasingham of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Peace Secretariat: February 22, 2006 His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa President, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat Colombo-1, Sri Lanka Fax: +94 1 333 703 Dr. Anton Balasingham […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Sri Lankan media continues to be a target of oppression and assault The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has concerns for freedom of expression in Sri Lanka following a series of reports that the media continues to suffer from acts of oppression and assault. Police summoned […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 16 February 2006 FMM press release: Prasad Purnamal, a provincial journalist working for MTV television network and ANCL newspapers, was assaulted, his video camera worth Rs. 100,000 (approx. US$979) was smashed and his still camera worth Rs.30,000 (approx. US$294) was taken away by supporters of the ruling political party […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: The Free Media Movement (FMM) expresses its concern over actions of the state security with regard to the Sinhala-language weekly Irudina, on account of an article published on claymore mines on 22 January 2006. Irudina is published by Lithira Publications. Publication of such an article does […]