Freedom of expression

Image: Sri Lanka’s President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa waves at his supporters as he leaves, after the presidential swearing-in ceremony in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka November 18, 2019. Photo: Reuters/Dinuka Liyanawatte. As was widely predicted, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), decisively won Sri Lanka’s presidential election on November 16. His opponent, Sajith Premadasa, of the United National Party […]

Asian Election observers faulted both private and State Media organisations for favouring their chosen candidates during the elections and suggested they should self-regulate themselves. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), an international election observation organization based in Asia, observed that while the presidential election ended in a largely peaceful and orderly manner, it witnessed […]

Image: Gotabaya Rajapaksa released an interview with Iraj on 14th November. Tough all campaigning for the 2019 presidential election came to an end at midnight on Wednesday (13), election propaganda activities continued widely over social media during the so-called “silent period” in direct violation of election laws. Social media such as Facebook and Twitter were […]

Image: A protest against the attack on Lasantha Wijeratne. Freelance journalist Lasantha Wijeratne became the recent addition to the long list of Sri Lankan journalists who has faced intimidation and threats in the line of duty. Just three days prior to the country heading to yet another decisive Presidential poll, Wijeratne was attacked on Thursday […]

5th November, 2019. Statement Condemning Threats, Harassment and Reprisals against Human Rights Lawyer and Jaffna University Senior Lecturer, Kumaravadivel Guruparanly. We, the undersigned individuals strong condemn the recent threats, harassment and unfair treatment against human rights defender, Kumaravadivel Guruparan, by the Sri Lankan military and University Authorities. Guruparan, is a prominent human rights lawyer and […]

Editorial, Daily FT. The Election Commission is one of the key institutions central to Sri Lanka’s democracy. Sri Lankans have stayed true to their power to exercise their franchise for over 70 years and for this reason the country is categorised as one of Asia’s oldest democracies. Therefore efforts to discredit the Election Commission, especially […]

In Sri Lanka, a Tamil MP has requested the Election Commission and the Inspector General of police to investigate into a news report published by three newspapers and also sent a defamation notice to the newspapers. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson MA Sumanthiran was quoted saying that Tamil people should vote for Sajith Premadasa in […]

As Sri Lankans head to the polls to elect a new president on 16 November, Gotabaya Rajapaksa stands as the widely acknowledged front runner. As defence secretary during his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decade-long presidency ending in 2015, he was a leading figure in a government that many minority Tamils and Muslims, as well as opposition […]

FILE- In this May 23, 2008 file photo, Sri Lankan journalists shout slogans during a protest demanding the government investigate into abduction and assault of fellow journalist Keith Noyahr in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Forced to flee their country a decade ago to escape allegedly state-sponsored killer squads, Sri Lankan journalists living in exile doubt they’ll […]

The Presidential election to elect the 7th Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is to be held on the 16th of November 2019. The deadline for candidates and political parties to campaign for the Presidential Election, including electronic and print media, ends at midnight today. However, all the candidates that are contesting […]

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.A Sumanthiran has sought a criminal investigation against fake news published in three local newspapers. In a letter to the Acting Inspector General of Police, Sumanthiran says three articles published in three local newspapers had falsely reported that he called on the Tamils to vote for New Democratic Front Presidential […]

 The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) urges Tamil people from the North-East and throughout Sri Lanka to freely exercise their franchise at the November 16 Presidential Election, giving careful consideration to the political formations and agendas of the major contenders.  After playing a decisive role in the political change of 2015 and experiencing disappointments on the […]

On 21 September 2019, in accordance with the Constitution, the Election Commission issued media guidelines to ensure a free and fair presidential election.3 These guidelines were issued under article 104B(5)(a) which was introduced through the 17th amendment to the Constitution.4 The guidelines encompass a wide range of responsibilities and duties that the media has with respect to […]

Edited image: Gotabaya Rajapaksa, leaving a campaign rally this week, is running for president in the Nov. 16 election. DINUKA LIYANAWATTE/REUTERS. The Rajapaksa family’s prior rule was stained by allegations of human-rights violations and corruption, sparking worries in Western capitals. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—A controversial political dynasty that made Sri Lanka a centerpiece of China’s efforts to expand its […]

Implementation of Committee Recommendations providing relief to Media Persons who were subjected to harassment and persecution during 2005 to 2015 Period. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by H. E. the President upon the request of Non-Cabinet Minister of Mass Media to compensate 78 journalists who were subjected to harassment and persecution during […]

Sandya Ekneligoda, wife of the missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, yesterday lodged a complaint with the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) with regard to a statement made by SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa on an election campaign stage in Anuradhapura. “Gotabaya Rajapaksa on October 10 said that he will release intelligence […]

Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC has filed indictments in the High Court against seven army intelligence officers in connection with the abduction of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. The Co-ordinating Officer to the Attorney General, State Counsel Ms. Nishara Jayaratne told news media that the Attorney General has already filed indictments in the Homagama High Court […]

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on Sri Lanka’s presidential candidates to give firm pledges to respect press freedom after a media owner threatened and then fired a radio news editor for refusing to broadcast fabricated and biased information, in an incident that speaks volumes about intimidation of journalists in Sri Lanka. “He shouted at me, […]

Many of us were hoping for a new dawn in 2015. The hope for a ‘Yahapalanaya’ Government now leaves ashes in the mouth of many people. It is true they brought us back our freedom and strengthened independent institutions but they failed fundamentally in convincing people that democracy and freedom should be the pillars of […]

Image: Peter Ilancheliyan. Peter Ilancheliyan, a prominent member of ITAK’s youth wing and son of the late former deputy chair of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Anthony Jeyanathan, is the fourth Mullaitivu-based individual to be summoned for questioning in recent weeks. Journalist Shanmugam Thavaseelan, former NPC member A Puvaneswaran, and vice chair of the Puthukudiyiruppu […]

A Batticaloa based journalist for Vasantham TV was admitted into hospital on Friday, after being attacked by a group of unknown persons. Mohamed Saji of Kattankudy was reportedly on his way to his office on Friday, when he was assaulted. Saji told police that the attackers also warned that Irfan Mohamed, the manager of Vasantham […]

Image: EC Mahinda Deshapriya. Sri Lanka’s election commission chief on Sunday backed down from plans to censor a state-owned TV station following criticism that his actions were supporting the main opposition candidate at this month’s presidential polls. In a surprise move, commission chairman Mahinda Deshapriya had banned any political programing on the Independent Television Network […]

Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday banned state-owned ITN from telecasting any politically-oriented program after accusing it of broadcasting an interview which he said was unfavourable to opposition candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The sweeping censorship of the state television broadcaster also caused a rift within the independent commission. One of the three members said there had […]

Image: Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa discusses his manifesto with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at its launch on Friday – Pic by Lahiru Harshana. A ‘Charter of Election Promises Honesty’ is necessary for all Given targets and promises are contradictory Free fertiliser would increase expenditure by Rs. 45 b VAT reduction from […]

The paucity of information on the use of public funds in Sri Lanka has typically impeded the public from holding the government accountable for its spending. The lack of visibility tends to leave mismanagement, poor planning and a lack of accountability undetected, which has resulted in the poor implementation of budget proposals in each budget […]

Soon after the Presidential Elections were announced few interested clergymen and lay experts with few invited guests met at the National Caritas Hall in mid-September to produce practical guidelines to educate the Catholics how to vote. basing on the Church’s Social Teachings. The Committee was set up to draft a document and later the document […]

  NPP candidate launches manifesto titled ‘Hope of a Nation’ Strengthening democracy and rule of law, ensuring corruption free administration prioritised Public security and national peace also on top of agenda Pledges to downsize Cabinet to 25 and cut retirement perks for politicians National Peoples’ Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday unveiled his […]

Image: NEC chairperson needs to walk the talk. The National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairman has been pressing for fair and independent reporting of election-related issues at different fora and at meetings with political party representatives. He nevertheless remains challenged by me, in how he allows a private print media to go without any legal action […]

Beth Van Schaack. Last Thursday, U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner dismissed Wickrematunge v. Rajapaksa. In a laconic four-page ruling, Klausner held that the court did not have subject matter jurisdiction over the suit against defendant Gotabaya (“Gota”) Rajapaksa, former Defense Minister of Sri Lanka, because he was entitled to common law foreign official immunity. The ruling dealt a blow to […]

Several journalists have demanded an apology from a private newspaper over a manipulated photograph featuring the daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickremetunga. In a media release, the  journalists, condemned in the strongest possible terms, the coordinated decision by two newspapers to use a manipulated photograph of a victim of crime in their reporting of a […]