Articles by Free Media Movement
Government minister organises protest against, calls for banning of, private television station
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 11 August 2008 FMM press release: Government Minister organises anti-media protest and calls for ban on TV station The Free Media Movement (FMM) notes that the notorious government Minister Mervyn Silva organised a protest against the MBC network’s Sirasa TV television station in Colombo on 11 August 2008. Approximately […]
FMM appalled at police spokesperson’s justification of minister’s attack on journalists
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 8 August 2008 FMM press release: Police media spokesperson speaks against media freedom 8 August 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – FMM is appalled by a statement made by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ranjith Gunesekara at a press conference on 7 August 2008, regarding government Minister Mervyn Silva’s continued […]
Critical journalist and two colleagues remain in detention without charges, despite conclusion of investigation and absence of evidence
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by FMM and a number of other civil society organizations: More than 150 days of detention without charges: release J.S Tissainayagam, N. Jasiharan and Valarmathy immediately Senior journalist J. S. Tissainayagam, a “Sunday Times” columnist and the editor of the website http://www.outreachsl.com , has been in […]
Army commander pressures newspaper to cancel defence columns
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a joint press release by FMM and four other media organisations: Army commander warns newspaper to censor defence columns 5 August 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – It has been reported to our organisations that Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka told staff journalist Indika Ramanayake, of “Lankadeepa” newspaper, that he would not […]
Notoriously anti-media government minister publicly assaults, threatens two journalists
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Brutish Sri Lankan Government MP attacks media again and again 5th August 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Free Media Movement (FMM) is outraged to record the disgraceful and violent behaviour of the Minister of Labour, Mervyn Silva, in assaulting two journalists from the Sirasa television […]
FMM concerned over army commander’s justification of recent attacks against journalists
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 29 July 2008 FMM press release: FMM disturbed over remarks made by the army commander The Free Media Movement is deeply disturbed by remarks attributed to the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, in recent interviews he has granted. One such interview appeared in the […]
Previously threatened journalist stalked
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 22 July 2008 FMM press release: Unknown gangs stalk the head of the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) 22 July 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s five largest media organizations, including the Free Media Movement (FMM), are deeply disturbed to note that suspicious, unidentified groups of individuals have […]
Government officials assault two “Daily Mirror” journalists, harass Sirasa TV journalist covering home demolitions
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 19 July 2008 FMM press release: Government officials attack journalists 19 July 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) is extremely displeased to report the assault of two more journalists and the harassment of another by government officials. The journalists were covering the illegal demolishing of hundreds […]