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Campaigns and Advocacy - Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka

RSF calls on UNHRC to condemn violations of freedom of information

The organisation feels that an immediate reaction is needed to stem the obstruction of journalists who want to cover the activities of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission.

International / Chechnya (Russia) / Sri Lanka

RSF to create mirror sites to fight censorship

The organisation will host mirror sites of the Sri Lankan online newspaper Lanka-e-News and the Chechen magazine Dosh.

Sri Lanka

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.

Sri Lanka

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.

Sri Lanka

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.

Joint action - Sri Lanka

Thirty-seven IFEX members urge authorities to accommodate visit of UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression

The groups urged President Rajapaksa to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, to Sri Lanka, while expressing deep concern for journalists who continue to be subjected to threats, harassment and assaults with alarming regularity.

Sri Lanka

Harassed and threatened, news website's journalists no longer able to work normally

Three media freedom and human rights groups appeal to international organisations for help in finding the means to guarantee the physical safety of LankaeNews' journalists.

Sri Lanka

IFJ welcomes United Nations' response on missing journalist's case

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has responded positively to a letter requesting the UN's support in the case of missing Lanka-e-News columnist and cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

Sri Lanka

Media rights groups to U.N.: intervene in case of missing journalist Prageeth Eknelygoda

Five prominent media rights organisations sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling on the U.N. to intervene in the case of Eknelygoda, who disappeared on 24 January 2010.

Sri Lanka

Media organisations urge UN to expedite efforts to locate missing journalist

On the first anniversary of his disappearance, FMM and other media organisations called for updated information on the UN's efforts to locate Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Sri Lanka

Solidarity welcomed as protesters demand action on missing journalist

A coalition of Sri Lankan press freedom groups staged a satyagraha, or silent protest, to mark 200 days since Eknaligoda mysteriously disappeared.

Joint action - Sri Lanka

Twenty-three IFEX members call on authorities to investigate disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda

Two hundred days after Prageeth Eknaligoda's disappearance, IFEX members expressed concern about the lack of transparency surrounding the investigation.

Sri Lanka

Alliance of Media Organisations organises protest calling on authorities to investigate journalist's disappearance

Prageeth Ekneligoda, a political reporter for the Sri Lankan news site Lanka eNews, has been missing since 24 January 2010.

Sri Lanka

FMM calls on government to investigate journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda's disappearance

"We call on the government and the police authorities to inform the public about the current status of the investigation into the disappearance of Ekneligoda," said FMM.

Sri Lanka

Safe passage for Tissainayagam just one step toward free media in Sri Lanka, says IFJ

An unconditional pardon for the journalist has been a key step demanded by the IFJ as an indicator of the government's commitment to press freedom.

Sri Lanka

No peace dividend for press, says CPJ report

In preparing the special report, CPJ spoke with journalists, diplomats, government officials, and international media support workers in Colombo and Jaffna.

Sri Lanka

CRNI calls on government to account for missing cartoonist's whereabouts and physical condition

CRNI also supports the peaceful demonstrations in Colombo calling for political accountability and relief from the growing harassment of journalists.

Sri Lanka

Attorney general offers assurance to exiled journalists

In a meeting with CPJ, the attorney general promised the government would guarantee the safety of journalists returning from exile.

International / Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Lasantha Wickrematunge named 53rd IPI World Press Freedom Hero

Six decades after IPI's founding, the murdered Sri Lankan editor will be one of 60 heroes honoured at the IPI World Congress in September 2010.

Sri Lanka

IFJ backs Sri Lankan journalists' protests against suppression

Local journalists are beginning a campaign to draw attention to media suppression following the presidential elections.

Sri Lanka

Concern over increasing media repression following election

FMM and four other media organisations issued a joint statement highlighting a number of incidents targeting the media.

Sri Lanka

Media organisations submit "reform agenda" to presidential candidates

Eight organisations, including FMM, presented an agenda of reform for media freedom to the candidates participating in the 2010 presidential election.

Sri Lanka

IFJ mission identifies key challenges for media after war's end

IFJ has released the report of a press freedom mission to Sri Lanka, identifying key challenges for the country's journalists and media.

Sri Lanka

FMM, media groups urge president to free Tissanayagam

(FMM/IFEX) - The publication of two articles by J.S. Tissanayagam in Sri Lanka's monthly magazine "The North Eastern" came at a price: 20 years' hard labour. The Editors' Guild of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association, the Free Media Movement, the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance, the Federation of Media Employees' Trade Union and the South Asia Free Media Association (Sri Lanka Chapter) view this punishment as a near fatal blow to freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. The handing of such a punishment to Tissanayagam is symbolic of the intention of the state to stifle and terrorize the media as a whole while further entrenching fear in the people.

Sri Lanka

Media groups condemn re-activation of Press Council Law

Several media groups wrote a letter to the Minister of Media and Information, questioning the re-activation of the controversial Press Council Law.

Joint action - Sri Lanka

Violent attacks against media continue post-conflict

The members of the Press Freedom Mission, including seven IFEX members, wrote an open letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, expressing grave concern over the deterioration of press freedom despite the recent military victory in the country.

Joint action - Sri Lanka

Thirty IFEX members call on government to protect journalists and end impunity

Free expression advocates from around the world gathered this week in Oslo, Norway, at the IFEX General Meeting. Thirty IFEX members signed on to a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, calling on him to "stop the war on journalists".

Joint action - Sri Lanka

Four IFEX members call on UN to investigate press freedom violations; former chairman of government-owned broadcaster kidnapped

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a joint submission to the UN Human Rights Council by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), ARTICLE 19, World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and the International Press Institute (IPI):

Joint action - Sri Lanka

International press freedom groups call for release of journalist J.S. Tissainayagam

(International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka /IFEX) - The following is statement by the International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka, a group comprising six IFEX members and three other organisations:

Joint action - Sri Lanka

International mission condemns "culture of impunity and indifference"

(IFJ/IPI/RSF/IFEX) - The following is a joint action by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Press Institute (IPI), Reporters sans frontières (RSF) and two other organisations:

Joint action - Sri Lanka

IFJ and IPI call for international attention on case of journalist defending himself against terrorism charges

(IFJ/IPI/IFEX) - The following is a joint IFJ and IPI media release:

Joint action - Sri Lanka

Twenty-nine IFEX members alert UN secretary-general to statements by government and military that "put journalists in grave danger"

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a joint action by 29 IFEX members and other organisations:

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Joint action by IFEX members incites government action

Sri Lanka has long been considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for practising journalists. In early 2008 this already perilous situation escalated, with the media suffering increasing cases of intimidation from the government. In May, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and more than 45 international organisations responded to the situation by launching the campaign, "Stop the War on Journalists in Sri Lanka". The campaign calls for the government to honour the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression by protecting and supporting its journalists.

Joint action - Sri Lanka

20 IFEX members and other organisations appeal to president to "Stop the War on Journalists"

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a joint letter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa by 20 IFEX members and other organisations:

Joint action - Sri Lanka

Six IFEX members urge government to uphold media's right to report safely as attacks escalate

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a joint statement by six IFEX members and other organisations:

Joint action - Sri Lanka

IPI and IFJ issue report on press freedom situation in Eastern Provinces

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 12 November 2007 joint IFJ and IPI press release:

Joint action - Sri Lanka

Thirty-two IFEX members appeal for action to strengthen media freedom and freedom of expression

(FMM/IFEX) - The following is a joint statement by 32 IFEX members:

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan journalists face danger and repression as media situation deteriorates

The conflict in Sri Lanka has been escalating since the failure of the 2002 peace talks. As tension and violence rises between government, paramilitary groups and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, journalists and media outlets are facing increased dangers as they try to cover the political and economic situation in the country.