Freedom of expression

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) shows that, without the control and censorship imposed by the authorities, the Chinese media would have informed the public much earlier of the severity of the coronavirus epidemic, sparing thousands of lives and perhaps avoiding the current pandemic. In an analysis published on March 13th, researchers from the University of Southampton suggest that […]

Image: Journalists wear masks during a press conference. EPA-EFE/Mauricio Duenas Castaneda (ipi.media) In a joint statement, six media organisations in Sri Lanka call on media institutions to implement safety precautions in the newsrooms as well as covering Covid-19. the statement follows: To all media owners/heads, Media accountability against the Covid-19 pandemic to the owners of […]

Image: Pro-Democracy protestors took to street daily against the constitutional coup staged by president Sirisena in October 2018. A short paper published by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) on key developments in the first 100 days of the present Government, as well as their implications for governance, the rule of law, reconciliation, human rights and […]

Image: In April Kurunegala police arrested Shakthika Sathkumara, a 33-year-old novelist, under the ICCPR law. – Report. A. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, INCLUDING FOR THE PRESS The constitution provides for freedom of expression, including for the press, and the government generally respected this right. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system […]

A federal appeals court in San Francisco has opened the door to a future lawsuit against the former defense secretary of Sri Lanka — now the nation’s president — for allegedly ordering the murder of a prominent journalist. Lasantha Wickretamunge, founder and editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was stabbed and beaten to death by […]

“A journalist asked the President how the government would face the consequences of withdrawing from co-sponsoring the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka. The Geneva resolution is a challenge to the nation’s independence and dignity. This is the only time in the history a country that has acknowledged that their own security forces have committed war […]

In its statement to UN Human Rights Council on the High Commissioner’s Report,  Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka emphasises that the weakening of the relevant provisions of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in strengthening independent institutions will seriously hamper checks and balances and protection of people’s rights under the Rule of Law. Sri […]

The director of Vavuniya-based Thinappuyal newspaper, Sakthivelpillai Prakash and his wife alongside another editor, were summoned by Sri Lanka’s Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) on Monday, following the paper’s coverage of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The latest incident of journalist intimidation comes as the 43rd session of the Council is currently underway, where Sri […]

Image:Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, center attends an event to mark the anniversary of country’s independence from British colonial rule in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.  © 2020 AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena. Rights Activists, Journalists Facing Surveillance, Threats. (New York) – Sri Lankan security agencies are stepping up surveillance, harassment, and threats against human rights activists and […]

NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS ISSUES DECISION IN CASE AGAINST GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSA. San Francisco, March 2, 2020: Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Ahimsa Wickrematunge’s request to vacate the lower court’s ruling that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is entitled to common law foreign official immunity for acts committed while he was Secretary of Defense of Sri […]

The Government has begun a crackdown on non-governmental organisations, both foreign and local, by urging them to cut down on programmes they are now engaged in. The first salvo has already been fired in the Mullaitivu District where NGOs have been asked “minimise” programmes such as women empowerment, child rights, youth training, human rights, land […]

1 January 2, 2020, Batticaloa: Sri Lankan police in plain clothing has entered the house of the Batticaloa based journalist: S. Nilanthan, purportedly to arrest him, and threatened his family when it was discovered he was not at home. (https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lankan-police-threaten-family-tamil-guardian-correspondent-arrest-warrant) 2 January 5, 2020, Kilinochchi: Foreign Journalist was denied access to Iranaitheevu island by the […]

Cartoon by Namal Amarasinghe. In a joint letter to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, Julie Verhaar Acting Secretary General, Amnesty International in a joint letter with RSF and CPJ, says that  they are  concerned by reports that journalists and other media workers in Sri Lanka are being subject to harassment, intimidation and surveillance […]

Sir, often we see, particularly professionals – we are also talking about misconduct of some professionals here – standing up for what is right and when they stand up for what is right, they are being persecuted. Being someone with a long track record in the private sector, before I came into politics, many people […]

Image: According to the report, a number of countries have already banned the burqa. | Photo Credit: AP. (PTI)The report suggested that the police should have the power to ask anyone wearing a face covering in a public place to take off such clothing in order to establish the identity of the person. A Sri […]

Image: Vikalpa (14 February 2020) In Sri Lanka, many families of the forcibly disappeared mark 14 February as ‘Missing Lovers Day’ in remembrance of their loved ones and to demand truth and justice The Sri Lankan government must deliver justice, truth and reparation to the families of the forcibly disappeared, Amnesty International said today, as […]

During an address to senior Buddhists leaders at the Vibhajjavadi Dhamma Symposium and Maha Tripitaka Pooja on 4 January, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that the defence of the Buddhist order is central to ensuring unity and the protection of religious freedom of Sri Lankans who profess other faiths. Just one day prior, his brother, […]

PHOTO: Mr Chen has been publicly critical of the Chinese Government over human rights abuses and media suppression. (Supplied) A citizen journalist who has been critically reporting on Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus crisis from the city of Wuhan has been missing for almost a week, according to his family. Key points: Chen Qiushi reported many hospitals […]

Dr Li Wenliang, who was silenced by the Chinese authorities for warning people about the coronavirus, died from the illness on February 7 at the age of 34. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expresses solidarity with the doctors, whistleblowers and journalists at the frontlines of the coronavirus epidemic who are endeavouring to report the […]

Cartoon by Kishan Rajapaksa. Co Cabinet Spokesman minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said today (6th Feb 2020) that a separate area has been allocated outside the presidential secretariat in close proximity to the Galle Face Green for protestors to carry out protests and demonstrations. Addressing the Weekly Cabinet Briefing held at the Department of Government Information […]

One more harassment of a journalist on duty has been reported from Kanthale, Trincomalee district. Journalist W.G. Roshan Kumara was threatened by a ruling party politician when he went to report on a bus accident.  The female politician Ariwathi Galappathi, who was the owner of the bus has threatened him saying that he may even […]

Journalists called on Sri Lanka’s government to take meaningful action to investigate journalist killings and disappearances on the annual ‘Black January’ commemoration on January 28. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Sri Lankan affiliate, the Free Media Movement urge the government in Sri Lanka to end a dark history of impunity for crimes […]

The Supreme Court last Friday (24) fixed for support on 2 June the granting of leave to proceed with the fundamental rights petition filed by Sarifudeen Mohamed Zahran. The petitioner, who is a Rupavahini Assistant Producer, lamented in his fundamental rights violation petition that he had been arrested and detained, with even a travel ban […]

Leaflets threatening to kill seven Tamil journalists were left at the Batticaloa Press Club and a nearby bus stop in Batticaloa, a city in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) and its affiliates Sri Lankan affiliate, the Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Union (FMETU) condemn the threat and urge […]

Today, 10th January 2020, is 10 years since the disappearance of journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda. It also marks 10 years of struggle for truth and justice by his wife, Sandya Ekneligoda and two young sons. Investigative reports by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to the Homagama Magistrate Courts indicate that Ekneligoda was abducted from Rajagiriya […]

Issuing a statement Free Media Movement  says that journalist Prasad Purnimal Jayamanne had been assaulted by a group including the son of a former Wayamba Provincial Council member.  This is the second such incident reported within two months. On  06 December 2019 journalist Thusitha Kumara de Silva and his wife Anusha Kumari was assaulted by […]

Cartoon by @awanthaartigala . Leaked phone conversations between a politician and judicial officers with more details  due to emerge has led to the interdiction of a Magistrate and inquiries into other judges even as the Sri Lankan public remain tantalised by these unfolding scandals. Weighty matters of governance are left discarded, the soaring cost of living […]

Amnesty International is concerned by multiple reports of harassment, intimidation and attacks on human rights organisations, media outlets, and journalists in Sri Lanka. Amnesty International has received reports that the authorities carried out more than a dozen unscheduled visits to human rights and media organisations between May 2019 and January 2020 that were seen as […]

The Free Media Movement strongly condemns the demeaning way the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Mulleriyawa Police has allegedly treated professional journalist Nimanthi Ranasinghe, who works as a court correspondent for Lankadeepa.  According to reports reaching us, Nimanthi Ranasinghe had visited the Mulleriyawa police station to complain about a threat to her professional career […]

Image: The 19A was thus, achieved by the resilient advocacy of academics, politicians, civil society groups, erudite clergy and many more agitated citizens of the country who were frustrated by the constitutional chaos and abuse of democracy caused by the 18A.  Just before the dawn of the New Year, two constitutional amendment Bills were presented […]