Journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedara was arrested and harassed by the police while covering a labor protest. He was released on bail.
28.07.2023
Arresting Tharindu Uduwaragedara is a threat to freedom of expression – Free Media Movement
The Free Media Movement claims the arrest of Tharindu Uduwaragedara, who was reporting a conflict between the protesters and the police during a protest jointly organized by the Labor Struggle Center and several trade unions, is a police interference and a threat to the freedom of expression.
Tharindu Uduwaragedara was arrested while he was reporting on the protest against the increasing cost of living, the weakening of employees’ rights, the revision of the labour laws, and the threat to the Employees’ Provident Fund. It is clear from the footage taken by other journalists at the time of the incident that he was harassed by police.
According to information, one of Tharindu Uduwaragedara’s eyes has been injured and the police have behaved in a highly abusive manner.
The right to protest is also a fundamental right, which goes hand in hand with freedom of expression. Reporting related to it is not an arrestable offense at all. If Tharindu Uduwaragedara was arrested for reporting the activities of the police, the secondary fact that arises is that the police desire to hide their behaviour from the citizens.
Therefore, the Free Media Movement condemns this arrest considering it a serious incident, and requests the responsible parties take appropriate measures regarding the abuses that happened to Tarindu Uduwaragedara.
Convener
Hanna Ibrahim
Secretary
Lasantha de Silva
