Sri Lanka

The Free Media Movement (FMM) requests the Inspector General of Police to take action to end the practice of threatening journalists within police stations by complainers or petitioners.

Sri Lankan police have exhumed the body of slain journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga as part of a new investigation into his death in 2009.

FMM vehemently condemns the attack on the editor of the regional newspaper and website “Meepura” and calls for proper legal action against the perpetrators.

Sri Lanka has seen decades of abductions and disappearances by state security agencies. Campaigning against such repressive acts has also become part of the country’s political culture.

Sri Lankan media widely reported on how inhumanely protesting university students were attacked by the police, who used high-pressure water hoses and teargas.

As it becomes clear that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has retained his premiership, ARTICLE 19 urges his new government to adopt the Draft Right to Information Bill, as promised in the previous parliamentary session.

The two former military officials were arrested over the disappearance of Sri Lankan journalist, Prageeth Eknaligoda. They reportedly confessed to the abduction of Prageeth and handing him over to an army camp on 24 January 2010.

Eight international freedom of expression groups have called for an investigation into the illegal blocking of online access to the “Colombo Telegraph”.

Although some positive initiatives have been taken by the government in relation to media freedom, there have been reports of the use of old tactics of media suppression from different parts of the country.

A freelance journalist was detained in connection with a story that alleged a girl had been assaulted by police in Jaffna city, northern Sri Lanka.

The perception of increased media freedom must be made permanent, stress the delegates participating in an international mission to Sri Lanka.

Elections on 8 January put an end to Mahinda Rajapaksa’s rule in Sri Lanka, which had been criticised for its increasing authoritarianism and a repressive media environment.

Today is a stark reminder of the issues facing press freedom in Sri Lanka, as 8 January also marks the fifth anniversary of the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.

Sri Lanka is slated to vote for a new president on 8 January 2015. Disturbingly, the IFJ has already had reports of incidents that violated media freedom.

FMM condemns the attack by a government politician and his cadres during the ‘Vidiye Wirodhaya’ event, which was organised by a group of Sri Lankan civil society organisations.

No investigation. No punishment. In Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Pakistan, impunity is the norm. And in neighbouring Afghanistan, the government’s vow to address journalists’ safety is still to be tested.