Sri Lanka

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Condemnation of hate speech against Editor of Sunday Leader The Free Media Movement (FMM) is seriously alarmed by the statements made in parliament on 1st February 2006 by the Propaganda Secretary of the Peoples Liberation Front (JVP), Mr. Wimal Weerawamsa, inciting hate against the Editor of […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the murder of Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, a correspondent of the Tamil-language daily “Sudar Oli” in the eastern city of Trincomalee, who was gunned down in the early morning hours of 24 January 2006. The previous day, he wrote about the abuses committed in his region by Tamil paramilitary groups. […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Journalist shot dead in Trincomalee The Free Media Movement (FMM) is shocked and dismayed to report the killing of another journalist in Sri Lanka this morning. Mr. Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, popularly known as SSR, a part-time provincial journalist working for the Tamil language daily Sudaroli was shot […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 12 January 2006 FMM press release: Threats to the Editor of Sunday Leader FMM expresses serious concern regarding the complaint made by the editor of the “Sunday Leader” newspaper, Mr. Lasantha Wikramatunge, to the inspector general of police alleging that President Mahainda Rajapaksa threatened him with abusive language over […]

(FMM/IFEX) – Free Media Movement (FMM) condemns the searching of the office of Jaffna Tamil daily “Yal Thinnakkural” by members of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Soldiers cordoned off and searched the office on 5 January 2006 at 2.45 p.m. (local time). According to information received by FMM, SLA members searched the editorial, press, administrative […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: On the alleged conspiracy to assassinate the chairperson of MTV-MBC media network There have been reports of an alleged conspiracy to assassinate the chairperson of the MTV-MBC media network. The issue was first reported by The Sunday Leader of 1 January 2006 and followed by the […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 21 December 2005 CPJ press release: SRI LANKA: Tamil journalists attacked as unrest escalates New York, December 21, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about recent attacks on ethnic Tamil journalists amid a spike in violence that threatens a ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 19 December 2005 FMM press release: Three journalists beaten in Jaffna by SL army Free Media Movement deplores and condemns the assault by government security forces on journalists covering a peaceful demonstration in Jaffna today, 19 December. Three journalists – Thinakural staff reporter Mr. T. Sabeswaran, Thinakaran (Lake House) […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 15 December 2005 FMM press release: FMM is disturbed over search of newspaper office in Jaffna Free Media Movement (FMM) is disturbed that government military personnel searched the editorial, administrative and press offices of the Tamil daily Namathu Eelanaadu in Jaffna today. Namadu Eelanaadu is one of the four […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Grenade attack on Journalist’s house Free Media Movement deplores and condemns the grenade attack on journalist I.H.A. Wahab’s house, which took place at midnight on 14th November 2005. Mr.Wahab is a provincial correspondent of state run television station ITN and the Tamil language newspaper Thinakaran in […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 5 November 2005 FMM press release: FMM condemns assault on journalist covering election rally Free Media Movement (FMM) deplores and condemns the assault on Swarnawahini TV cameraman Indika Weerakoon on November 3 at Hiniduma, Galle, while covering an election rally of presidential candidate Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksha. The incident […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Landmark media charter signed in Colombo In an historic commitment to media reform, five of Sri Lanka’s leading journalist associations have come together to sign a landmark media charter in a joint expression of solidarity. The document, The Media Charter for a Democratic and Pluralist Media […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 1 November 2005 FMM press release: Two journalists brutally assaulted by a group that included an Army major Free Media Movement condemns the brutal assault of two journalists by a group of people, including an Army major, while the journalists were reporting on the killing of Lieutenant Colonel T. […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: The Free Media Movement (FMM) condemns the physical assault on Mr. Raja Katugampola, news director of the state-controlled Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), by the SLBC chairman’s private security guards. The assault took place on 26 October 2005 in the chairman’s office. Mr. Katugampola was later […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ capsule report: General election violence and anti democratic media environment The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries, is concerned for the welfare of journalists reporting on the upcoming election in Sri Lanka. Frequent threats and attacks against […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 17 October 2005 CPJ press release: In Sri Lanka, arsonists strike printing press as attacks escalate New York, October 17, 2005–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns recent violent attacks on the Sri Lankan media and the apparent escalation of the assaults ahead of November’s presidential election. In the most […]