Sri Lanka

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 4 January 2000 letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, RSF expressed its indignation after the murder of Anton Mariyadasan, a journalist with the state-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. RSF asked that “a serious and thorough investigation be conducted to identify those responsible for the murder.” RSF also asked the president to ensure […]

**Updates IFEX alert of 20 December 1999** (CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 21 December 1999 CPJ news alert: SRI LANKA: TWO JOURNALISTS KILLED IN BOMB BLAST New York, December 21, 1999 – Two Sri Lankan broadcast journalists were among 22 people killed in an assassination attempt against President Chandrika Kumaratunga at an election rally […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 20 December 1999 letter to the Sri Lankan president and minister of Security, Chandrika Kumaratunga, RSF expressed its indignation over the death of two Sri Lankan journalists who were victims of a suicide bombing. RSF reminded the president that four journalists have died in Sri Lanka since the beginning of the […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 protest letter to Sri Lankan Minister of Media Mangala Samaraweera further to the ministry’s issuing of threats against privately owned electronic media in Sri Lanka: By fax: 00 94 1 440488 Hon. Mangala Samaraweera Minister of Media Colombo, Sri Lanka ARTICLE 19 has been very disturbed […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 16 November 1999 letter to the Sri Lankan president and security minister, Chandrika Kumaratunga, RSF expressed its indignation about the murder of Atputharajah Nadarajah, chief editor of the Tamil-language weekly “Thinamurasu.” RSF asked that “a serious and thorough investigation” be conducted to find out the motives of, and the people responsible […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply dismayed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s administration’s recent expansion of censorship regulations on media coverage of the civil war between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The latest restrictions follow news reports that as many as 1,000 government troops may have been killed […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is strongly condemning the murder of Rohana Kumara, chief editor of the Sinhala-language newspaper “Satana”. **Updates IFEX alerts of 8 September 1999** At around 10 p.m. (local time) on 7 September 1999, unidentified assailants shot and killed Kumara on the road leading to his home in the Colombo suburb of Mirihana. The […]

(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is strongly condemning the murder of Rohana Kumara, editor of a pro-opposition newspaper, in Sri Lanka. IPI is informed that Kumara, editor of the pro-UNP (United National Party) tabloid, Satana (“Battle”), was shot dead by unidentified assailants in a suburb of Colombo. He was travelling home from his office in a taxi […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a FMM press release: The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the murder of the editor of Satana newspaper, Mr. Rohana Kumara, on the night of 7 September 1999. He was shot dead by unknown gunmen whilst on his way home from work. The murder of Mr. Kumara on International Journalists […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply disturbed over the Saturday 21 August 1999 attack on the Tamil-language newspaper “Uthayan”, the only daily publishing in the northern city of Jaffna. At around 8:30 p.m. (local time) on 21 August, unidentified assailants threw two hand grenades at “Uthayan”‘s office building. The grenades exploded outside the building. About seventy […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 23 August 1999 letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, RSF voiced its concern over the grenade attack on a Tamil newspaper group’s office in Jaffna. RSF asked Kamaratunga “to ensure that a serious and thorough investigation is launched to find out who was responsible for this attack, which threatens freedom of the […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: For immediate release – 4 August 1999 ARTICLE 19 STATEMENT ON THE ASSASSINATION OF DR NEELAN THIRUCHELVAM ARTICLE 19 – the International Centre Against Censorship – unreservedly condemns the assassination of Dr Neelan Thiruchelvam in Colombo on 29 July 1999. It views Dr Thiruchelvam’s […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a Free Media Movement press release: **Updates IFEX alert of 21 July 1999** The Free Media Movement wholeheartedly welcomes the motion on ‘Necessity of Reformation of Media Laws in the Country’, which will soon be taken up for debate in Parliament. Freedom of speech and of the media is a […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: 21 July 1999 – For immediate release SRI LANKA: PARLIAMENTARY CALL FOR MEDIA LAW REFORM RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT Two leading international press freedom organisations today welcomed a motion before the Sri Lankan Parliament which calls for urgent reform of the country’s media laws. ARTICLE […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 15 July 1999 Free Media Movement press release and list of media personnel attacked during an opposition rally: FREE MEDIA MOVEMENT PRESS STATEMENT The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the attack on members of the media, who covered the opposition protest rally today (15th July). Media personnel were assaulted, […]

(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a Free Media Movement press release: Press Release from the Free Media Movement May 3, 1999 International Press Freedom Day Free Media movement is pleased to join hands with other media organisations and journalists all over the world to mark International Press Freedom Day. Several journalists are still languishing in […]