Sri Lanka

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From the Communiqué

1 February 2012

Journalists worldwide commemorate Black January

A leading editor killed, a popular TV channel raided and accused by the state media of "unpatriotic" coverage of the war, a political columnist disappeared, and still other journalists forced to flee the country or close down their websites. All these incidents happened in the past four years in Sri Lanka, all in the month of January - leading journalists the world over to pick up the call from the Free Media Movement (FMM) and other Sri Lankan groups to commemorate "Black January" this year on 25 January.
11 August 2010

TV station incinerated; political cartoonist remains missing

Sri Lankan reporter and cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda has been missing for 200 days. IFEX members are demanding an investigation. Under Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's reign, gunmen lob gasoline bombs at television stations, journalists are beaten and hospitalised, independent websites are blocked and repressive new media laws are created. Despite the end of the war last year, repression of the media has not eased, report the Free Media Movement (FMM), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). In a joint action, 23 IFEX members have called on the government to investigate the disappearance of cartoonist and columnist Prageeth Eknaligoda - now missing for 200 days.

See all articles: Sri Lanka



Campaigns and Advocacy

25 January 2012

IFJ joins 'Black January' campaign against attacks on journalists

The campaign is a response to the attacks on the media that have occurred in the month of January in the past three years, and the failure of the government of Sri Lanka to bring to account those responsible for attacks on numerous journalists.
23 August 2011

IFJ welcomes partner organisations' press freedom mission to Jaffna

A team of activists asked Jaffna journalists and media workers about the situation they face since the end of the civil war in May 2009 and the lifting of restrictions on movement.
10 June 2011

CPJ calls for UN action in case of journalist missing for over 500 days

Prageeth Eknelygoda has not been seen by his wife or the couple's two teenage sons since he left for work on the morning of 24 January 2010.

See all campaign news: Sri Lanka



Reports

5 January 2011

Less anti-media violence in 2010 but more obstruction and self-censorship, says RSF

RSF condemns the new forms of censorship being used to prevent diverse and freely-reported coverage of the situation in the country.
12 March 2009

Sri Lanka special report: Failure to Investigate




See all reports: Sri Lanka

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Alerts

Web censorship targeting critical voices 10 November 2011 Death threats against newspaper editor 4 November 2011 Network chairman, general manager receive death threats 28 October 2011 Access to anti-government website blocked 20 October 2011 Newspaper chairman threatened by President Rajapaksa 3 August 2011 IFJ outraged by brutal attack on senior journalist in Jaffna 2 August 2011 Tamil journalist bound, shot, during civil war 22 June 2011 FMM condemns arrest of journalist, two others by Borella Police 16 June 2011 FMM condemns attack on "Uthayan" journalist 7 June 2011 Authorities ban Lanka eNews 2 May 2011 Another Lanka eNews journalist arrested 26 April 2011 IFJ urges full investigation as editor granted bail 11 April 2011 Colombo diplomatic corps urged to act immediately to free ailing journalist 1 April 2011 Arson attack destroys offices of independent news website 31 January 2011 Newspaper editor's murderers still at large two years later 10 January 2011 Reporters covering attack on opposition politician assaulted 9 December 2010 Trial starts against leading opposition newspaper 22 October 2010 Journalists attacked by police while reporting on student demonstration 20 October 2010 Ten years of impunity for killers of Jaffna-based journalist 20 October 2010 Printer company owner, employees arrested following printing of poster 13 September 2010 Exiled journalist and his family continue to receive threats 7 September 2010 Police attack, assault demonstrators at protest march 13 August 2010 Privately-owned broadcaster torched 4 August 2010 IFJ questions government moves on media ethics 27 July 2010 Death threats to journalist's family 21 July 2010 See all alerts: Sri Lanka
 
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