IFJ disappointed by Supreme Court decision on Internet restrictions
The court declined leave to proceed in a case filed under the country’s fundamental rights provisions against the blocking of certain websites.
Hearings into disappearance of opposition journalist continue
The Prageeth Eknelygoda family’s attorney may have to press Sri Lanka’s Appeal Court to order former Attorney General Mohan Peiris to testify about the comments he made at the U.N. Committee Against Torture in relation with the case.
ARTICLE 19’s Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review
While the government received and accepted a number of recommendations related to the right of freedom of expression during the first UPR cycle, none of these have been realised.
Eknelygoda’s wife latest victim of intolerance
Sandhya Eknelygoda, who has been trying to gain any information about the whereabouts of her disappeared husband, Prageeth, came under harsh questioning from government lawyers about her presence at the UNHRC in Geneva.
Alarming increase in hostile rhetoric, threats of reprisals against journalists
Minister for Public Relations Mervyn Silva addressed a public demonstration against the UNHRC resolution, threatening to “break the limbs” of any of the exiled journalists if they dared set foot in the country again.
Government calls journalists “traitors”
The government must halt its intimidation of journalists who supported a UNHCR resolution calling for an investigation into alleged abuses of international humanitarian law during the war with Tamil separatists, says CPJ.
Media restrictions come amid rise in abductions
Even though restrictions on reporting on the military were formally lifted in August 2011, a journalist warned “if you write about them you have to be prepared to be abducted by a white van.”
Censorship imposed on news alerts by military authorities
The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) has demanded that “any news related to national security, security forces, and the police should get prior approval from the MCNS before dissemination”.
RSF calls on UNHRC to condemn violations of freedom of information
The organisation feels that an immediate reaction is needed to stem the obstruction of journalists who want to cover the activities of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission.
National reconciliation efforts must address journalists’ concerns, says IFJ
The IFJ notes that the report of an official commission appointed by the president as part of the process of national reconciliation was published late in 2011 and has led to some debate.
RSF to create mirror sites to fight censorship
The organisation will host mirror sites of the Sri Lankan online newspaper Lanka-e-News and the Chechen magazine Dosh.
FMM voices concern over allegations in “Dinamina” newspaper article
The article refers to an alleged conspiracy between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the FMM and claims a joint delegation plans to mobilise agitations against the government and cause embarrassment for Sri Lanka during the upcoming UNHRC sessions in Geneva.
IFJ joins ‘Black January’ campaign against attacks on journalists
The campaign is a response to the attacks on the media that have occurred in the month of January in the past three years, and the failure of the government of Sri Lanka to bring to account those responsible for attacks on numerous journalists.
Web censorship targeting critical voices
IFJ condemns the new registration rules for websites hosting any manner of content on the country, which has led to the blocking of several sites.
Death threats against newspaper editor
The threatening letter Frederica Jansz received on 27 October was prompted by her 2009 interview with Gen. Sarath Fonseka, a former army commander and presidential candidate.
Network chairman, general manager receive death threats
TNL Chairman Shan Wickremesinghe believes the threats may be linked to a recent programme aired by Isira Radio, exposing the connection between the drop in the share market and the drug mafia.