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Articles - Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka

State media outlets label journalists "traitors"

Sri Lankan authorities have openly threatened journalists who supported a UN resolution calling for an investigation into the country's abuse of international laws during its war with Tamil separatists, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Officials are calling these journalists "traitors" and one threatened to break their legs.

Sri Lanka

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.

Sri Lanka

Press marks cruel anniversary

A year ago last January, Sri Lankan cartoonist Prageeth Eknelygoda mysteriously disappeared. Two years ago this month, independent TV station Sirasa was bombed with military precision - a couple of days before well-known editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was critical of his government's war against the Tamil Tigers, was killed. Today, none of the cases have been solved, and no one has been brought to justice. Sri Lanka's Free Media Movement (FMM) and other IFEX members have launched a series of campaigns and actions to commemorate one of Sri Lanka's "cruellest months for journalists."

Sri Lanka

TV station incinerated; political cartoonist remains missing

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.

Sri Lanka

Critics of the state under surveillance and attack

As Sri Lanka gears up for parliamentary elections on 8 April, a political reporter abducted two months ago remains missing and journalists who supported jailed opposition leader Sarath Fonseka during January Presidential elections are being hunted down for arrest, report Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Meanwhile, a controversial list of at least 30 journalists and human rights defenders to be kept under surveillance has emerged, underscoring threats to any critics of the regime, report the Free Media Movement (FMM), Index on Censorship and other IFEX members. Members of FMM are on the list.

Sri Lanka

Attacks on journalists on the rise after elections

Arrests and intimidation of Sri Lankan journalists continue in a post-election crackdown, especially on critics who sided with the opposition, report the Free Media Movement (FMM) and other IFEX members. Authorities have detained and questioned many journalists, blocked websites and expelled a foreign journalist, fostering a climate of fear.

Sri Lanka

Propaganda and intimidation of critical media ensured President's victory

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa won the presidential elections on 26 January after state-owned media took an extreme partisan approach and openly favoured him with its coverage, report the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). There was widespread election-related violence with supporters of both major candidates attacking journalists, including the abduction of a political reporter, say IFEX members.

Sri Lanka

Journalist released from prison; impunity protects editor's killers

Sri Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam was released on bail this week, four months after receiving a 20-year prison sentence, report the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI). IFEX members have also highlighted that one year after Sri Lankan editor Lasantha Wickrematunge was killed, there has been no serious investigation of the case and a culture of impunity continues to curb free expression.

Sri Lanka

Journalists live in fear; culture of impunity entrenched

Two Sri Lankan editors received death threats on 22 October identical to the one received by journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge weeks before he was murdered in January, report IFEX members. The end of the war has not ensured the safety of the country's journalists

Sri Lanka

Tamil journalist sentenced to 20 years of hard labour

Popular Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam has been sentenced to 20 years hard labour on charges of supporting terrorism and inciting racial hatred, becoming the first journalist to be convicted under Sri Lanka's draconian anti-terrorism law, report Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and other IFEX members.

Sri Lanka

Death threat against activist sign of ongoing post-war repression

Last week, a popular Sri Lankan human rights activist received a death threat that is emblematic of the continuing clampdown on dissent in Sri Lanka during supposed reconstruction and peacetime, say ARTICLE 19 and Freedom House.

Sri Lanka

Media still under attack, says international press mission

The long war between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended when the government declared victory this past May, but the assault on journalists in the country continues, according to the International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

Government resurrects draconian press council

Sri Lanka is planning to revive the now defunct Press Council amid continuing tension between the authorities and independent newspapers, report the Free Media Movement (FMM), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Sri Lanka

WICKREMATUNGE GANA PREMIO MUNDIAL A LA LIBERTAD DE PRENSA DE UNESCO

Sri Lanka

WICKREMATUNGE REMPORTE LE PRIX MONDIAL DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE, DÉCERNÉ PAR L'UNESCO

Sri Lanka

WICKREMATUNGE WINS UNESCO'S WORLD PRESS FREEDOM PRIZE

UNESCO's World Press Freedom Prize has been posthumously awarded to a Sri Lankan editor who was critical of his government's war against the Tamil Tigers and predicted his own murder.

Sri Lanka

MIEMBROS DE IFEX EXIGEN LIBERACIÓN DE POPULAR PERIODISTA TAMIL

Sri Lanka

LES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX EXIGENT LA LIBÉRATION D'UN POPULAIRE JOURNALISTE TAMOUL

Sri Lanka

IFEX MEMBERS DEMAND RELEASE OF POPULAR TAMIL JOURNALIST

It has been a full year since popular Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam, "Tissa", was detained in Sri Lanka. After being held five months without explanation, he was suddenly accused of promoting terrorism and held the unfortunate title of the first Sri Lankan journalist to be charged as a terrorist for doing his job.

Sri Lanka

GOBIERNO SECUESTRA AL MÁS IMPORTANTE PERIODISTA TAMIL

Sri Lanka

LE GOUVERNEMENT ENLÈVE UN ÉMINENT JOURNALISTE TAMOUL

Sri Lanka

GOVERNMENT ABDUCTS TOP TAMIL JOURNALIST

At a time when Sri Lankan journalists have come under increased attack, the editor of the only Tamil daily functioning from the Jaffna peninsula was abducted on 26 February while attending a funeral in Colombo, report local Sri Lankan journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and other IFEX members.

Sri Lanka

UNE MISSION INTERNATIONALE DÉNONCE LA « CULTURE D’IMPUNITÉ ET D’INDIFFÉRENCE » QUI SÉVIT AU SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka

MISIÓN INTERNACIONAL REPUDIA "CULTURA DE LA IMPUNIDAD E INDIFERENCIA" EN SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka

INTERNATIONAL MISSION CONDEMNS "CULTURE OF IMPUNITY AND INDIFFERENCE" IN SRI LANKA

A leading editor is killed, a popular TV channel is raided and accused by the state media of "unpatriotic" coverage of the war, an editor and his wife are victims of murder attempts, and still other journalists are forced to flee the country or close down their websites. All this in just one month in Sri Lanka, whose press freedom situation continues to deteriorate - even more so because of government inaction, says a new report by an international press freedom mission to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

EDITOR ABIERTO PREDIJO SU ASESINATO

Sri Lanka

UN REPORTER INCISIF AVAIT PRÉDIT SON ASSASSINAT

Sri Lanka

OUTSPOKEN EDITOR PREDICTED HIS ASSASSINATION

A Sri Lankan editor who was critical of the administration's war against Tamil guerrillas and often wrote about government corruption was killed last week - just days after predicting his murder, report the Free Media Movement (FMM) and other IFEX members.

Sri Lanka

SITUACIÓN DE LIBERTAD DE PRENSA EN SRI LANKA ESTÁ EMPEORANDO, DICE MISIÓN

Sri Lanka

LA SITUATION DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE SE DÉTÉRIORE AU SRI LANKA, CONCLUT UNE MISSION

Sri Lanka

SRI LANKA'S PRESS FREEDOM SITUATION WORSENING, SAYS MISSION

The press freedom situation in Sri Lanka has noticeably deteriorated over the past year, marked by a continuation in murders, attacks, abductions, intimidation and harassment of the media, says an international press freedom mission to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTA MUERTO EN ESTALLIDO DE BOMBA

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE PERD LA VIE DANS L'EXPLOSION D'UNE BOMBE

Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST KILLED IN BOMB BLAST

A journalist was killed last week when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a crowded political party office in northern Sri Lanka, report the Free Media Movement (FMM) and four other local media organisations.

Sri Lanka

ARRÊTEZ LA GUERRE CONTRE LES JOURNALISTES DU SRI LANKA : LIBÉREZ TISSA DÈS MAINTENANT !

Sri Lanka

¡ACTÚE! DETENGAN LA GUERRA CONTRA LOS PERIODISTAS DE SRI LANKA: LIBEREN A TISSA AHORA MISMO

Sri Lanka

STOP THE WAR ON SRI LANKAN JOURNALISTS: RELEASE TISSA NOW

Popular Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam ("Tissa") is the first Sri Lankan journalist to be charged as a terrorist for doing his job. After being held five months without explanation, he was suddenly charged last month with promoting terrorism through a magazine he published for a brief period two years ago.

Sri Lanka

MIEMBROS DE IFEX PIDEN ACCIÓN DE LA ONU

Sri Lanka

LES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX DEMANDENT UNE INTERVENTION DES NATIONS UNIES

Sri Lanka

IFEX MEMBERS CALL FOR UN ACTION

Alarmed by statements from Sri Lankan authorities threatening journalists, 31 IFEX members and partners signed a joint letter on 20 June asking for United Nations action. The letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, initiated by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), says the statements "put journalists in grave danger."

Sri Lanka

LE GOUVERNEMENT NE PROTÈGE PAS LES JOURNALISTES

Sri Lanka

GOBIERNO NO ESTÁ PROTEGIENDO A LOS PERIODISTAS

Sri Lanka

GOVERNMENT NOT PROTECTING JOURNALISTS

Sri Lanka's journalists reporting on the ongoing war between the government and Tamil rebels have become the latest target of attacks - and the government shows little interest in protecting them, say the Free Media Movement (FMM) and other IFEX members.

Sri Lanka

FIP INICIA CAMPAÑA PARA "DETENER LA GUERRA CONTRA LOS PERIODISTAS"

Sri Lanka

LA FIJ LANCE UNE CAMPAGNE POUR FAIRE « CESSER LA GUERRE CONTRE LES JOURNALISTES »

Sri Lanka

IFJ LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO "STOP THE WAR ON JOURNALISTS"

Sri Lanka has relinquished its role as "keeper of the peace" for failing to prevent attacks on journalists and to bring those responsible to account, say 40 organisations, the majority of them IFEX members. Led by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the 40 groups have joined forces in an international campaign to "stop the war on journalists" in the conflict-ridden country.

Sri Lanka

LES EMPLOYÉS DE LA TÉLÉVISION D'ÉTAT EMPÊCHÉS D'ENTRER À LA STATION

Sri Lanka

EXPULSAN DE ESTACIÓN A EMPLEADOS DE TELEVISIÓN ESTATAL

Sri Lanka

STATE TELEVISION EMPLOYEES SHUT OUT OF STATION

Employees of Sri Lanka's state-run television station were shut out from work yesterday (17 March) by the police and army after employees threatened to go on strike in protest of a series of attacks on them, according to the Free Media Movement (FMM), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and news reports.

Sri Lanka

AUTORIDADES SON INEFICACES PARA PROTEGER PERIODISTAS, DICEN MIEMBROS DE IFEX

Sri Lanka

LES AUTORITÉS SONT INCAPABLES DE PROTÉGER LES JOURNALISTES, DISENT DES MEMBRES DE L'IFEX

Sri Lanka

AUTHORITIES INEFFECTIVE IN PROTECTING JOURNALISTS, SAY IFEX MEMBERS

Six IFEX members have told the Sri Lankan authorities that they are grossly ineffective in protecting journalists, and are even to blame for further endangering their lives.

Sri Lanka

ATAQUE AÉREO MATA A CINCO PERSONAS EN ESTACIÓN DE RADIO REBELDE

Sri Lanka

UNE FRAPPE AÉRIENNE CONTRE UNE STATION DE RADIO REBELLE TUE CINQ PERSONNES

Sri Lanka

AIR STRIKE KILLS FIVE AT REBEL RADIO STATION

Sri Lankan military jets bombed the radio station of the Tamil Tigers last week, killing five media workers, report Free Media Movement (FMM) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Sri Lanka

IMPORTANTE TALLER DE IMPRESIÓN SE INCENDIA; MÁS TRABAJADORES DE LOS MEDIOS SECUESTRADOS

Sri Lanka

UNE IMPORTANTE IMPRIMERIE EST RASÉE PAR LES FLAMMES; D'AUTRES TRAVAILLEURS DES MÉDIAS SONT ENLEVÉS

Sri Lanka

LEADING PRINTING PRESS GOES UP IN FLAMES; MORE MEDIA WORKERS ABDUCTED

The printing press of three opposition newspapers in a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka was burned down last week, report the Free Media Movement (FMM) and international press freedom groups.

Sri Lanka

ESTUDIANTE PERIODISTA BALEADO FRENTE A SU CASA

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE ÉTUDIANT EST ABATTU DEVANT CHEZ LUI

Sri Lanka

STUDENT JOURNALIST GUNNED DOWN IN FRONT OF HOME

A student journalist was gunned down in front of his home in Jaffna, report the Free Media Movement (FMM) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Sri Lanka

GOBIERNO TRATA DE VOLVER A INTRODUCIR LEYES PENALES DE DIFAMACIÓN

Sri Lanka

LE GOUVERNEMENT TENTE DE RAMENER LA DIFFAMATION PÉNALE

Sri Lanka

GOVERNMENT TRIES TO REINTRODUCE CRIMINAL DEFAMATION

The Sri Lankan government is intent on bringing back criminal defamation laws, the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) report.

Sri Lanka

LES JOURNALISTES AU SRI LANKA SONT MOINS EN SÉCURITÉ, CONSTATE UNE MISSION DE RETOUR D'UNE DEUXIÈME VISITE

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTAS EN SRI LANKA ESTÁN MENOS SEGUROS, ENCUENTRA MISIÓN EN NUEVA VISITA

Sri Lanka

JOURNALISTS IN SRI LANKA LESS SAFE, MISSION FINDS ON RETURN VISIT

Sri Lankan journalists are increasingly worried about their safety, and the government has done little to protect them - even further endangering their lives, the International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Sri Lanka has found on its return visit to the country.

Sri Lanka

UN RÉDACTEUR TAMOUL EST ASSASSINÉ CHEZ LUI

Sri Lanka

EDITOR TAMIL MUERTO EN SU CASA

Sri Lanka

TAMIL EDITOR KILLED IN HIS HOME

The editor of a Tamil magazine was shot dead in his home in northern Sri Lanka, report the Free Media Movement (FMM), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Sri Lanka

LE CONFLIT ALIMENTE LA RÉPRESSION DE L'INFORMATION

Sri Lanka

CONFLICTO IMPULSA MEDIDAS CONTRA INFORMACIÓN

Sri Lanka

CONFLICT FUELS INFORMATION CLAMPDOWN

In Sri Lanka's Jaffna Peninsula, where fighting between government forces and the rebel Tamil Tigers has resumed since the collapse of a ceasefire in April 2006, news and information about the conflict have become increasingly restricted.

Sri Lanka

MISIÓN INTERNACIONAL ENCUENTRA QUE SITUACIÓN DE SEGURIDAD DE PERIODISTAS SE ESTÁ DETERIORANDO

Sri Lanka

INTERNATIONAL MISSION FINDS DETERIORATING SECURITY SITUATION FOR MEDIA

A delegation representing the International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission found a "serious deterioration in the security situation" for the media during its 9 to 11 October 2006 fact-finding and advocacy mission in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTA ASESINADO MIENTRAS AUMENTAN ATAQUES A MEDIOS

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE EST ASSASSINÉ TANDIS QUE LES ATTENTATS CONTRE LES MÉDIAS PRENNENT DE L'AMPLEUR

Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST MURDERED AS ATTACKS ON MEDIA INCREASE

Attacks on journalists and media outlets appear to be increasing in Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula amidst heavy fighting between security forces and the separatist Tamil Tiger (LTTE) rebels. In the past two months, two journalists have been killed, two newspaper distributors murdered, and the warehouse of a newspaper burned down, report Free Media Movement (FMM), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTA ASESINADO

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE EST ASSASSINÉ

Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST MURDERED

Free Media Movement (FMM), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) warn that free expression conditions in Sri Lanka appear to be deteriorating amidst escalating violence in the country, which claimed the life of a journalist on 2 July 2006.

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE EST ASSASSINÉ TANDIS QUE LA TRÊVE SE DÉGRADE

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTA ASESINADO EN MEDIO DE DETERIORO EN TREGUA

Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST MURDERED AMID DETERIORATING TRUCE

Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, a journalist at the Tamil-language newspaper "Sudaroli", was gunned down by unidentified assailants in the port city of Trincomalee on 24 January 2006, a day after writing an article about abuses committed by Tamil political organisations, report Free Media Movement (FMM), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Sri Lanka

UN ESTUDIO EXAMINA LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN Y LIBERTAD DE PRENSA EN SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka

UNE ÉTUDE SE PENCHE SUR LA LIBERTÉ DES MÉDIAS ET DE LA PRESSE AU SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka

STUDY EXAMINES MEDIA AND PRESS FREEDOM IN SRI LANKA

The Centre for Policy Alternatives, a Sri Lankan think tank, and International Media Support of Denmark have published the second volume of their series assessing the state of media and press freedom in the country.

Sri Lanka

FMM LANZA SITIO WEB PARA VIGILAR LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Sri Lanka

LE FMM INAUGURE UN SITE WEB POUR SUIVRE DE PRÈS LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Sri Lanka

FMM LAUNCHES WEBSITE TO MONITOR PRESS FREEDOM

As Sri Lankans go to the polls to elect a new president on 17 November 2005, Free Media Movement (FMM) has launched a new website to monitor attacks on press freedom and freedom of expression in the country. It comes amid an escalation of assaults against journalists covering the elections.

Sri Lanka

À L'APPROCHE DES ÉLECTIONS, LES ATTAQUES CONTRE LES JOURNALISTES PRENNENT DE L'AMPLEUR

Sri Lanka

AGRESIONES CONTRA PERIODISTAS AUMENTAN EN PERIODO PREVIO A ELECCIONES

Sri Lanka

ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS ESCALATE IN LEAD-UP TO ELECTIONS

Free Media Movement, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) are calling attention to an apparent escalation of attacks against journalists and media outlets in Sri Lanka as the country heads towards parliamentary elections on 17 November 2005.

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE EST ABATTU

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTA MUERTA A TIROS

Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST SHOT DEAD

Free Media Movement (FMM), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) are calling for an immediate inquiry into the murders of journalist Relangi Selvarajah and her husband, who were gunned down by unidentified assailants on 12 August 2005 in Bambalapitiya.

Sri Lanka

LA FIJ LANCE UN MANUEL SUR LA COUVERTURE DU CONFLIT AU SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka

FIP PRESENTA MANUAL SOBRE INFORME DE CONFLICTOS EN SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka

LES DIRIGEANTS DU FMM REÇOIVENT DES MENACES DE MORT

Sri Lanka

LÍDERES DE FMM RECIBEN AMENAZAS DE MUERTE

Sri Lanka

FMM LEADERS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS

Free Media Movement (FMM), IFEX's member organisation in Sri Lanka, says two of its leaders have received death threats from an extremist group that claims responsibility for the April 2005 murder of a well-known journalist.

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE EST ASSASSINÉ

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTA ASESINADO

Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST MURDERED

IFEX members are calling for an investigation into the death of journalist Darmaratnam Sivaram, whose bullet-riddled body was found in a field in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 29 April 2005. Sivaram, 47, was abducted after leaving a restaurant on 28 April, reports Free Media Movement (FMM).

Sri Lanka

LE GROUPE FMM TENTE D'OBTENIR DU SOUTIEN POUR LES MÉDIAS TOUCHÉS PAR LE TSUNAMI

Sri Lanka

FMM SOLICITA APOYO PARA MEDIOS AFECTADOS POR TSUNAMI

Sri Lanka

FMM SEEKS SUPPORT FOR MEDIA AFFECTED BY TSUNAMI

The Free Media Movement (FMM) is appealing for international support to help rural journalists in Sri Lanka recover from the devastating effects of the December 2004 tsunami. The IFEX member recently completed field visits to areas affected by the disaster and found that many provincial journalists were in need of basic equipment to carry out their work.

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE EST TUÉ

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTA ASESINADO

Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST KILLED

Kandasamy Iyer Balanadarajah, a journalist and media spokesperson for the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), was gunned down on 16 August 2004 by two unidentified assailants, report Free Media Movement and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontierès, RSF). He became the second journalist killed in Sri Lanka this year.

Sri Lanka

UN RAPPORT DE RSF DÉNONCE L'IMPUNITÉ

Sri Lanka

INFORME DE RSF LAMENTA IMPUNIDAD

Sri Lanka

RSF REPORT DECRIES IMPUNITY

Attacks on journalists in eastern Sri Lanka have reached alarming levels in recent weeks, with a reporter murdered and a dozen others facing death threats, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Sri Lanka

INTERFERENCIA POLÍTICA SABOTEA LIBRE EXPRESIÓN

Sri Lanka

L'INGÉRENCE POLITIQUE SABOTE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION

Sri Lanka

POLITICAL INTERFERENCE SABOTAGES FREE EXPRESSION

Sri Lanka's Free Media Movement (FMM) has issued a report analysing the overall situation of the media in that country over the past year. Covering the period from May 2003 to April 2004, the "Media Situation Report" appeared in Colombo on 3 May 2004, World Press Freedom Day. It was co-authored by INFORM, a human-rights group.

Sri Lanka

UN REPORTER D'EXPÉRIENCE EST ABATTU

Sri Lanka

REPORTERO VETERANO BALEADO

Sri Lanka

VETERAN REPORTER GUNNED DOWN

The Free Media Movement (FMM) is organising a demonstration this week to protest the killing of journalist Aiyathurai Nadesan, a senior reporter shot dead last week in the eastern town of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

EDITORES AMENAZADOS; PERIÓDICOS CONFISCADOS Y QUEMADOS

Sri Lanka

DES ÉDITEURS SONT MENACÉS, DES JOURNAUX SONT CONFISQUÉS ET BRÛLÉS

Sri Lanka

EDITORS THREATENED; NEWSPAPERS CONFISCATED, BURNED

The Free Media Movement (FMM) in Colombo condemned a threatening phone call made on 10 March 2004 to Siri Ranasingha, editor-in-chief of the "Lankadeepa" newspaper, by Wimal Weerawansa, propaganda secretary of the Peoples Liberation Front (JVP). The politician hoped to get a political advertisement supposedly damaging to him withdrawn from the newspaper. He has since apologized for the phone call.

Sri Lanka

DES JOURNALISTES ÉCHANGENT LEURS EXPÉRIENCES SUR LA COUVERTURE DES CONFLITS

Sri Lanka

NEPAL/SRI LANKA: JOURNALISTS SHARE CONFLICT-REPORTING STORIES

Journalists and press-freedom advocates from Nepal and Sri Lanka, including Free Media Movement (FMM), took part in a recent project to exchange experiences on conflict reporting, writes the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA).

Sri Lanka

LE FMM ET L'IIP DEMANDENT AVEC INSTANCE UNE RÉFORME DE LA RADIODIFFUSION

Sri Lanka

FMM E IPI INSTAN A LA REFORMA DE DIFUSIÓN

Sri Lanka

FMM, IPI URGE BROADCASTING REFORM

In the wake of a state of emergency declared last week in which Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga replaced the heads of the country's state broadcasters with her supporters, the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the International Press Institute (IPI) are calling for the establishment of independent public service broadcasters.

Sri Lanka

DES JOURNALISTES DÉBATTENT DE LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTAS SE UNEN PARA ANALIZAR CUESTIONES DE LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Sri Lanka

JOURNALISTS UNITE TO DISCUSS PRESS-FREEDOM ISSUES

As peace talks in Sri Lanka continue, Free Media Movement (FMM) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) are working together to promote unity among the country's diverse ethnic media. Last week, the organisations held a conference in Varuniya, bringing together journalists from the country's twelve national, ethnic and provincial media organisations to

Sri Lanka

UN RAPPORT COUVRE LA SITUATION DES MÉDIAS PENDANT LA GUERRE AU SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka

Informe investiga medios en un sri lanka devastado por la guerra

Sri Lanka

Report Surveys Media in War-Torn Sri Lanka

29 July 2003

Sri Lanka

COMISIÓN DE IPI RECONFORTADA POR CONDICIONES DE LA LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Sri Lanka

MISSION DE L?IIP TROUVE ENCOURAGEANTE LA SITUATION DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Sri Lanka

IPI MISSION CHEERED BY PRESS-FREEDOM CONDITIONS

An International Press Institute (IPI) delegation, recently returned from Sri Lanka in February, is recommending removing the country from its Watch list after finding what it calls a "warm atmosphere of hope and progress on press freedom" in the country. The watch list monitors press freedom in democratic countries IPI considers to be in danger of sliding into repression.

Sri Lanka

DES GROUPES DE JOURNALISTES METTENT SUR PIED UN INSTITUT DE LA PRESSE

Sri Lanka

GRUPOS DE PERIODISTAS INICIAN INSTITUTO DE PRENSA

Sri Lanka

JOURNALISTS' GROUPS LAUNCH PRESS INSTITUTE

The Free Media Movement (FMM) has teamed up with the Editor's Guild and the Newspaper Society to launch a new press institute aimed at improving journalism standards and promoting media self-regulation. The initiative is the result of three years of discussions between the organisations in consultation with international media organisations and experts.

Sri Lanka

LE FMM SALUE L?ABOLITION DES LOIS SUR LA DIFFAMATION

Sri Lanka

FMM SALUDA ABOLICIÓN DE LEYES DE DIFAMACIÓN

Sri Lanka

FMM WELCOMES ABOLITION OF DEFAMATION LAWS

Nearly 10 years of campaigning by the Free Media Movement (FMM) to have restrictive defamation laws lifted in Sri Lanka have borne fruit. On 18 June the Sri Lankan Parliament passed a law removing criminal defamation laws from the statute books. Welcoming the announcement, FMM says the law is "the first major legislation in over two decades to strengthen freedom of expression." Introduced during British colonial rule, the laws have been used since the 1970s by governments to harass the press and impose serious restrictions on journalists, FMM adds.

Sri Lanka

ELECCIONES INMINENTES SUSCITAN INQUIETUDES POR LIBERTAD DE PRENSA

Sri Lanka

À VENIR SUSCITENT DE L?INQUIÉTUDE AU SUJET DE LA LIBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE

Sri Lanka

UPCOMING ELECTIONS SPUR PRESS FREEDOM CONCERNS

As Sri Lanka heads towards general elections in December, the Free Media Movement (FMM) is putting the government "on notice" for violating a section of the constitution that prevents publicly owned media from promoting candidates or political parties. In a letter to the Commissioner of Elections, FMM says the government has failed to prevent four media companies from violating the 17th amendment to the Constitution since it approved the new amendment on 3 October.

Sri Lanka

AMENAZAS DE CONTROLES MÁS ESTRECHOS DESPUÉS QUE PERIODISTA RESULTO HERIDA

Sri Lanka

PLUS SERRÉS APRÈS UN INCIDENT DANS LEQUEL EST BLESSÉE UNE JOURNALISTE ÉTRANGÈRE

Sri Lanka

TIGHTER CONTROLS THREATENED AFTER JOURNALIST WOUNDED

The Sri Lankan government is threatening tighter controls on foreign journalists after American journalist Marie Colvin was seriously wounded on 16 April, report the Free Media Movement (FMM), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters sans frontières (RSF). Colvin, a correspondent for the British "Sunday Times", was caught in a shootout between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and government forces, says FMM. She received wounds to her head, eyes, chest, and arms, and is recovering in hospital in the capital, Colombo, where she is reportedly in satisfactory condition, says RSF. Colvin, one of the patrons of RSF's UK branch, was named Best Foreign Correspondent at the British Press Awards in March.

Sri Lanka

LE FMM DÉNONCE LA CAMPAGNE MENÉE CONTRE LES MÉDIAS INDÉPENDANTS

Sri Lanka

FMM DENUNCIA CAMPAÑA CONTRA MEDIOS INDEPENDIENTES

Sri Lanka

FMM DENOUNCES CAMPAIGN AGAINST INDEPENDENT MEDIA

Sri Lankan state media are engaged in a "mud-slinging campaign" against the Free Media Movement (FMM) in an attempt to suppress news from the International Press Institute (IPI) annual assembly, according to FMM. The chair of the state-owned Lake House newspaper company attended the IPI meetings, which took place from 26 to 29 January in New Delhi, India. Yet the state media have failed to report that IPI decided to keep Sri Lanka on its "watch list" for another six months, says FMM [See IFEX "Communiques" #10-5 and #10-4]. Instead, they have spread misleading information about FMM's participation in the assembly and inaccurately reported that the Lake House chair prevented attempts to denigrate Sri Lanka at the meeting, according to FMM. The organisation believes that the distortion of the IPI proceedings and the attacks on FMM are "yet another example of the slander campaign being carried out by the state against the Sri Lanka media."">http://communique.ifex.org/articles.cfm?category=3%20Other%20News%20from%20the%20IFEX%20Community&volume=10&issue_no=5&lng=english#2769">IFEX "Communiques" #10-5 and #10-4]. Instead, they have spread misleading information about FMM's participation in the assembly and inaccurately reported that the Lake House chair prevented attempts to denigrate Sri Lanka at the meeting, according to FMM. The organisation believes that the distortion of the IPI proceedings and the attacks on FMM are "yet another example of the slander campaign being carried out by the state against the Sri Lanka media."

Sri Lanka

VETERANO PERIODISTA ASESINADO

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE D?EXPÉRIENCE EST ASSASSINÉ

Sri Lanka

VETERAN JOURNALIST ASSASSINATED

On 19 October, Tamil journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan was murdered in his home in Jaffna, report the Free Media Movement (FMM), the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Unidentified assailants shot Nimalarajan through the window before also throwing a grenade into the house, a move which injured the journalist's parents and nephew. A correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as well for numerous electronic and print media groups based in the country’s south, Nimalarajan was "a courageous journalist of the highest caliber who had remained in Jaffna through a series of political changes," remarks FMM. Despite receiving threats in an increasingly dangerous political environment, Nimalarajan stayed committed to reporting on the situation in Jaffna, the "epicentre" of the country’s 17-year civil war between government troops and Tamil separatists. Nimalarajan’s work was "a particularly crucial source of information," notes CPJ, since the government has denied journalists regular access to the country’s conflict zones.

Sri Lanka

LEVANTAN PARCIALMENTE REGLAMENTOS DE CENSURA, CONTINÚA VIOLENCIA

Sri Lanka

LEVÉE PARTIELLE DE LA CENSURE; LA VIOLENCE SE POURSUIT

Sri Lanka

CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS PARTIALLY LIFTED, VIOLENCE CONTINUES

The Sri Lankan government has temporarily lifted some of its censorship bans imposed earlier this year, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the European Journalism Centre (EJC) based on information from Associated Press (AP). On 8 September, the government announced that until the parliamentary elections on 10 October, “journalists will not be subject to restrictions on stories related to national security and public interest,” reports AP. The order came into effect on 5 September, says CPJ. The withdrawal, however, is only partial, since journalists are still prohibited from reporting on “military operations, deployment of troops and comments on the performance of the security forces in the country’s 17-year civil war.” The censorship regulations were first imposed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s administration in May, after the rebel LTTE forces made critical military advances. Local journalists note that “few political and economic stories can be written in Sri Lanka without alluding to a war that has sapped the country’s resources.”

Sri Lanka

EN DÉPIT D?UNE DÉCISION DU TRIBUNAL

Sri Lanka

REINTRODUCEN CENSURA A PESAR DE FALLO DE TRIBUNAL

Sri Lanka

CENSORSHIP RE-INTRODUCED DESPITE COURT RULING

Sri Lanka re-introduced censorship measures aimed at local and foreign media on 4 July, reports the International Press Institute (IPI). According to IPI, "the new regulations will make it possible for the government to censor war-related news and other reports considered to be 'against national security'." The government also confirmed the re-appointment of Ariya Rubasinghe as the chief censor. The new measures were "strongly condemned" by IPI.

Sri Lanka

PROTESTA CONJUNTA DE FMM PIDE DEROGAR LEYES DE CENSURA

Sri Lanka

DEMANDE L?ABOLITION DES LOIS SUR LA CENSURE

Sri Lanka

FMM JOINT PROTEST CALLS FOR REPEAL OF CENSORSHIP LAWS

While the government recently repealed censorship restrictions placed on foreign media in Sri Lanka, bans on local media persist and continue to be the "the most repressive laws ever promulgated in the country," report Free Media Movement (FMM), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters sans frontières (RSF). Along with the declared state of emergency, the censorship regulations have "caused the entire democratic process in this country to grind to a halt," say the signatories of an FMM initiated joint protest. The statement, signed by over 40 political parties, trade unions and civil society groups, further urges the government to immediately repeal the emergency regulations, and to "restore normalcy to the lives of ordinary citizens."

Sri Lanka

GOBIERNO IMPONE LEY DE CENSURA

Sri Lanka

LE GOUVERNEMENT IMPOSE SA LOI SUR LA CENSURE

Sri Lanka

GOVERNMENT IMPOSES CENSORSHIP LEGISLATION

The day before World Press Freedom Day, the government of Sri Lanka imposed a new set of regulations that impose severe reporting restrictions on journalists and media groups, report the Free Media Movement (FMM) of Sri Lanka, Reporters sans frontières (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and ARTICLE 19. These are "the most draconian [regulations] ever imposed on the media in Sri Lanka," says CPJ, based on reports from local journalists. The regulations were imposed after the rebel LTTE forces made critical military advances, says CPJ. According to ARTICLE 19, authorities claim that extending reporting restrictions will help to resolve the country's crisis in Jaffna. FMM also notes that these measures will be in force for the three months leading up to Sri Lanka's general elections in August.

Sri Lanka

EDITOR ASESINADO

Sri Lanka

ASSASSINAT DU DIRECTEUR D?UNE PUBLICATION

Sri Lanka

EDITOR MURDERED

On 9 November, Atputharajah Nadarajah, chief editor of the "Thinamurasu", and his driver were killed by "an unidentified gunman," states Reporters sans frontières (RSF). The perpetrators and the motive for the crime remains unknown. Nadarajah was also a member of parliament for the Jaffa district for the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), which belongs to the ruling People's Alliance Coalition. RSF states that his weekly Tamil-language paper had recently changed, "veering towards Tamil nationalism and supporting the Tamil Tigers."

Sri Lanka

GOBIERNO EXPANDE REGLAMENTOS DE CENSURA

Sri Lanka

LE GOUVERNEMENT ÉTEND LA CENSURE

Sri Lanka

GOVERNMENT EXPANDS CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS

On 6 November, the Sri Lankan government issued an immediate ban prohibiting "the publication, broadcast or transmission of sensitive military information" surrounding the civil war between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), reports Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The ban was instated after news reports alleged that "as many as 1,000 government troops were killed by LTTE forces" during a wave of attacks against the government in the Wanni region of northern Sri Lanka. The announcement did not specify if the ban also applies to foreign media workers in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

UN JOURNALISTE EST TUÉ

Sri Lanka

PERIODISTA MUERTO

Sri Lanka

JOURNALIST KILLED

On 7 September, Rohana Kumara, chief editor of the Sri Lankan newspaper Satana, was gunned down in Colombo, according to the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The assailants remain unidentified, however CPJ reports that a group of men entered Kumara’s house just hours before his death and threatened his wife to reveal Kumara’s whereabouts.

Sri Lanka

LES LOIS SUR LES MÉDIAS SERONT RÉFORMÉES

Sri Lanka

REFORMARÁN LEYES DE MEDIOS

Sri Lanka

MEDIA LAWS TO BE REFORMED

Sri Lanka's parliament plans to review the country's media laws, reports the Free Media Movement (FMM). Parliament will debate a motion on the 'Necessity of Reformation of Media Laws in the Country'. FMM says, "Freedom of speech and of the media is a fundamental requirement in a democratic society. The media has to play an independent and responsible role in disseminating accurate information without fear or favour, on issues of public interest." Welcoming media law reform, FMM notes that a government-appointed committee headed by R.K.W. Goonesekera called for the "changes in the existing law, in keeping with international obligations imposed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."