In a joint letter to president Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the 19th 9th commemoration of journalist Subramaniam Sukirtharajan, who was brutally murdered in Trincomalee, several media organisations and civil society groups requested that a dedicated commission of inquiry to deliver justice for murdered and disappeared journalists to be appointed.
With the support and solidarity of AHRC, the Eastern Province Journalists’ Association and the Trincomalee District Journalists’ Union organized the 19th memorial of S. Sugirtharajan on 24.01.2025, at the very site in Trincomalee where he was brutally Massacred 19 years ago.
The letter:
Honorable President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Presidential Secretariat,
Colombo.
Dear Honorable President,
Demand for Justice for Massacre and Disappeared Journalists
On the 19th commemoration of journalist Subramaniam Sukirtharajan, who was brutally murdered in Trincomalee, we—the Eastern Province Journalists’ Union, Trincomalee District Journalists’ Association, Jaffna Media Centre, Vavuniya Media Centre, Kilinochchi Journalists’ Union, Mullaitivu Media Centre, Mannar Media Centre, Aham Humanitarian Resource Centre, Professional Online Journalists’ Union, Online Media Advocacy (IMA), media organizations from the North-East-South, regional civil networks, human rights activists, women human rights defenders, and affected communities—have gathered today, January 24, 2025, at Orrshill i Park, Lower Road, Trincomalee. We present this collective plea demanding justice for Massacre and disappeared journalists.
The history of Sri Lanka’s media sector has been marked by Massacre , atrocities, threats, and challenges. We hope such incidents will cease in the future.
Journalists working during the war faced a lack of guarantees for their safety, and many risked their lives to continue their work. Many were killed, disappeared, or forced to abandon their profession to ensure their safety. Some fled the country and sought refuge abroad.
In particular, journalists in all parts of the country, including the North and East, have raised their voices to protect media freedom. Our unified demand is that justice must be served for those Massacre and disappeared.
Over 41 journalists have been Massacre in the North and East. Immediate steps must be taken by the government to provide interim compensation to the families of these Massacre and disappeared journalists.
Of the 44 journalists and media workers killed across Sri Lanka over the past decades, most hailed from the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Notable journalists such as Iyaathurai Nadesan, Dharmeratnam Sivaram, L.M. Faleel (Faleel of Narpitthimunai), Subramaniam Sukirtharajan, Chinnathampi Sivamaharajah, Subramaniam Ramachandran, Chandrabose Sudhakar, Selvarasa Rajeevarman, Isaivizhi Sembiyan (Subajini), Barani Rupasingham Devakumar, Rasaiya Jeyendran, Punniyamurthi Sathiyamoorthy, Mahalingam Maheswaran, Mariappu Anthony Kumar, Shobana Dharmaraja (Isaipriya), and Sakathevan Nilakshan were killed between 2004 and 2010. During the same period, journalists Thirukulasingham Thavapalan and Prageeth Eknaligoda were forcibly disappeared.
“Eastern Province Journalists’ Forum, Trincomalee District Journalists’ Association, Aham Humanitarian Resource Centre, Jaffna Press Club, Vavuniya Press Club, Kilinochchi Journalists’ Union, Mullaitivu Press Club, Mannar Press Club, Professional Web Journalists’ Association, Internet Media Action (IMA), Colombo.” have consistently condemned the violence unleashed on journalists and media institutions in the North and East.
In 2000, the Massacre of BBC journalist Mayilvaganam Nimalarajan marked the beginning of a series of targeted killings of journalists.
Despite numerous attacks on journalists and media institutions in the North-East, none of the perpetrators or masterminds behind these crimes have been apprehended or brought to justice.
While we continue to advocate for media freedom in the North and East, we also persistently demand justice for our Massacre and disappeared media colleagues.
Even with changes in government, no proper investigations into these Massacre and disappearances have been conducted. A commission was formed during the 2005–2009 administration to provide interim relief to the families of Massacre and disappeared journalists, but it failed to produce any meaningful results.
Later, during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency, no such commissions were even appointed. Until the end of his tenure, the issues faced by journalists were neglected.
Subsequent governments have also failed to prioritize these cases. When you assumed office, you announced that controversial cases abandoned earlier would be revisited, including those of D. Sivaram and Lasantha Wickrematunge.
In November, Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa stated during a press conference on December 10, 2024, that the CID had begun investigations into cases of Massacre and disappeared journalists, not limited to Tamil journalists but also Sinhala and Muslim journalists. However, no updates on these investigations have been made public.
In the midst of the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative and efforts to combat corruption, the government must prioritize investigations into Massacre and disappeared journalists.
Despite consistent and repeated calls from international, national, and regional media organizations for justice, it appears that investigations into these cases are being sidelined.
No government has yet conducted impartial investigations into the Massacre of journalists in the North-East. We hope that under your administration, these issues will not be neglected as they were in the past.
While justice and reparations for Massacre and disappeared journalists will not restore their lives or the past well-being of their families, it will bring a measure of peace.
Journalist Subramaniam Sukirtharajan, who was committed to providing truthful information to the public, was murdered 19 years ago. On his commemoration day, we present these demands:
Our Demands:
- Appoint a dedicated commission of inquiry to deliver justice for murdered and disappeared journalists.
- Arrest and prosecute the perpetrators behind the killings of over 41 journalists and media workers in the North and East, as well as those who attacked media institutions.
- Reveal the truth about the journalists abducted and forcibly disappeared, and hold the Sri Lankan government accountable.
- Provide interim compensation to the families of murdered and disappeared journalists.
- Ensure the safety and freedom of all journalists in the country.
- End the culture of impunity that undermines free media operations by holding culprits accountable.
Thank you.
“Eastern Province Journalists’ Forum, Trincomalee District Journalists’ Association, Aham Humanitarian Resource Centre, Jaffna Press Club, Vavuniya Press Club, Kilinochchi Journalists’ Union, Mullaitivu Press Club, Mannar Press Club, Professional Web Journalists’ Association, Internet Media Action (IMA), Colombo.”
Sri Lanka,
24th January, 2025.