Articles by Free Media Movement
State broadcasting official publicly issues dire warnings against two journalists
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 12 June 2008 joint media release by FMM and four other organisations: Head of State Media calls for journalist’s death 12th June 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – Hudson Samarasinghe, recently appointed the chairperson of the state-controlled Sri Lanka Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC), called for the death of senior journalist Poddala […]
FMM condemns suppression of political protest by ruling party politicians, fears new round of human rights violations
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 10 June 2008 FMM press release: Politically motivated attack on peaceful protests FMM condemns the politically-motivated attack on two protests organized by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) political party on 8 and 9 June 2008. The protest was organized under the theme of “hands off democracy; defend people’s freedom […]
Freelance journalist threatened with murder by ruling party politician in Matale district
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 9 June 2008 FMM press release: Provincial journalist threatened It has been reported to the FMM that journalist Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa of Dambulla, Matale district was threatened with death by a ruling party politician in the area. Kanchana Kumara works for a number of newspapers and radio stations as […]
Fourth Muslim journalist assaulted by ruling party supporters in Kathankudi, journalists threaten strike over police indifference to anti-media attacks
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an 8 June 2008 FMM press release: Post election violence in Eastern province; Fourth journalist attacked in Batticoloa The FMM notes with disappointment that in continuing post-election violence in the eastern province, a fourth journalist in Kathankudi, Batticoloa district has been intimidated. It condemns all these attacks in the strongest […]
FMM, independent media targets of slander campaign, incitement to violence by Defence Ministry
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is an FMM press release: Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence viciously attacks independent media 5 June 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Free Media Movement (FMM) is outraged at the recent statement by the Ministry of Defence that incites violence by claiming that the FMM and other independent media support terrorism […]
Sri Lanka Press Institute visited by armed military inquiring about directors, staff
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 30 May 2008 FMM press release: The Free Media Movement expresses its grave concern that military personnel have made an “unofficial” visit to the Sri Lanka Press Institute, in which FMM is a constituent partner. Below is the full statement: The Sri Lanka Press Institute expresses its concern and […]
Group storms journalist’s house, warns him against reporting on defence and military matters
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 31 May 2008 FMM press release: Another journalist warned not to report matters related to defence The FMM has learned that Sirimevan Kasthuriarachchi, a senior defence reporter for “Sinhala Divaina” newspaper of the Upali Newspapers Group, was sternly warned against reporting on matters related to defence and the Sri […]
Two senior journalists reprimanded, threatened over campaign protesting abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr
(FMM/IFEX) – The following is a 28 May 2008 open letter to Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksha from FMM and four other Sri Lankan media organisations: Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksha Secretary of Defence Ministry of Defence Colombo, Sri Lanka 28 May 2008 Dear Sir, Reprimand of senior journalists unacceptable We are extremely disappointed and very concerned […]