Arson attack on printing press
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Free Media Movement condemns the arson attack which took place last night on the printing press of the Sunday Leader and Irudina weeklies. This attack threatens not only press freedom but also a free and fair election environment in the country. FMM, as a co-convener of […]
FMM expresses concern to military commanders over branding of filmmakers as “terrorists”
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM letter to Lieutenant General Shantha Kottegoda and Vice Admiral Vasantha Karannagoda: Lieutenant General Shantha Kottegoda Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Sri Lanka Army HQ Colombo 02 Vice Admiral Vasantha Karannagoda Commander of Sri Lanka Navy Sri Lanka Navy HQ Colombo 01 Dear sirs, Having paid serious attention […]
Filmmakers accused of promoting terrorism
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Filmmakers accused for “new terrorism” The Free Media Movement (FMM) is disturbed by recent reports of unwarranted pressure on Sri Lankan filmmakers producing films on the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. An article published in an English language daily on 14 September 2005 indicated that films […]
Journalists assaulted
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 8 September 2005 FMM press release: FMM condemns assaults on journalists The Free Media Movement (FMM) condemns the physical assaults and severe verbal abuse directed against two journalists of the Sirasa TV channel by supporters of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, on 6 September 2005, as they were proceeding […]
Two “Sudaroli” newspaper journalists assaulted
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Two journalists assaulted in a series of attacks against Sudaroli newspaper Two parliamentary reporters from Sudaroli newspaper were assaulted on 30th August 2005 when they were waiting for a bus after a day’s work. The two journalists assaulted were V. Puththirasigamani and Arumugam Varatharajah. Both received […]
Grenade attack on Sudaroli printing press, security guard seriously injured
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Bomb attack on Sudaroli printing press, injuring one seriously Around 6:00 pm today (29th August 2005), two persons entered the premises of the Sudaroli printing press and hurled two grenades towards the door. D. Selvarathnam, a security guard who was at the door, was seriously injured […]
Photojournalist beaten while covering JVP protest rally
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Sudaroli Photojournalist P. Yadurshan Beaten and Handed Over to Police by JVP P. Yadurshan, a photojournalist for the Tamil-language newspaper Sudaroli (published in Colombo), was beaten up while covering a People’s Liberation Party (JVP) protest rally in front of the railway station in Fort this afternoon. […]
Grenade thrown into “Sudaroli” newspaper’s office
(FMM/IFEX) – On 20 August 2005, an unidentified man opened the door and threw a grenade into “Sudaroli” newspaper’s office in Wellawatta, Colombo. A special police team later removed the unexploded grenade. “Sudaroli” is a Tamil-language newspaper published in Colombo by the Udayan group, which has been publishing a Tamil-language daily in Jaffna for nearly […]
Journalist arrested under emergency laws; police refuse to provide information
(FMM/IFEX) – FMM has expressed serious concern over the Kurunagala police’s refusal to provide information about journalist Subramanium Ramesh, the Mawathagama correspondent for the Tamil language daily “Veerakesaree”, who was arrested under emergency laws sometime in the afternoon of 19 August 2005. FMM accepts the security forces’ right to arrest persons on suspicion, especially with […]
CPJ calls on authorities to investigate killing of Tamil broadcaster and her husband
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 16 August 2005 CPJ press release: SRI LANKA: Tamil broadcaster killed with husband New York, August 16, 2005 – A popular Tamil broadcaster and her husband, a political activist, were killed by unidentified gunmen in Colombo on August 12, the day Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated. […]
Journalist and her husband killed by unknown gunmen
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 12 August 2005 FMM press release: FMM condemns killing of journalist Relangi Selvarajah Free Media Movement strongly condemns the murder of journalist Relangi Selvarajah and her husband, by unknown gunmen on 12 August 2005. They were both shot dead at approximately 1:00 p.m., in Bambalapitiya, Colombo. Relangi Selvarajah had […]
CPJ alarmed by president’s comments against senior journalist
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 3 August 2005 CPJ press release: CPJ alarmed by Sri Lankan president’s comments against senior journalist New York, August 3, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by intimidating remarks made by President Chandrika Kumaratunga against senior defense correspondent Iqbal Athas last week. Speaking to a closed […]
Deputy minister threatens several journalists and media owners
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 26 July 2005 FMM press release: Deputy Minister threatens media institutions in public The Free Media Movement strongly condemns the behaviour of Deputy Minister Mervin Silva on 25/7/05, where he used abusive language to threaten journalists and owners of a number of media organizations. The incident took place outside […]
RSF encouraged by arrest of suspect in TamilNet editor’s murder
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Dharmeratnam Sivaram “Taraki”, editor of the news website TamilNet and “Daily Mirror” columnist, and urged the government to step up its efforts in the investigation. After more than a month and a half of inactivity, police appear to have made progress […]
Grenade attack on television station in Vavuniya
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ fears for journalists’ safety following bomb attack on TV station in Sri Lanka The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has grave concerns over Sri Lankan journalists’ safety following a bomb attack on a TV station in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka. Unidentified attackers lobbed a hand grenade […]
Editor of Tamil daily receives death threats
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is extremely concerned about the safety of Vediwel Thevaraj, editor-in-chief of the Tamil daily “Veerakesari”, following a series of death threats. In a letter to the Minister of Public Security, Law and Order, Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, the organisation urged Colombo authorities to take the threats seriously in the wake the 29 April 2005 […]