International Community must condemn attacks on Media in Sri Lanka

(February 05, Bangalore, Sri Lanka Guardian) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the international community to raise concerns at the highest levels regarding the rapid rise in hazards facing journalists and media workers in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s presidential election.

“The evidence of the past two weeks clearly contradicts a purported statement by Sri Lanka’s senior Minister for Information and the Media, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, that there is no threat to the media in Sri Lanka,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.

The IFJ is extremely worried for the safety of well-known political commentator Prageeth Eknaligoda, who has been reported missing since late January 24.

Sources say that Eknaligoda, a contributor to Lanka-e-News and father of two children, suffers from a diabetic condition and has undergone heart surgery for which he requires daily medication.

His wife has lodged a complaint with the police who say that investigations are under way.

Sri Lanka’s Media Minister, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, is on record saying that the Government has information regarding Eknaligoda’s disappearance.

Public appeals have been made for information on his whereabouts and his wife has written personally to President Rajapaksa.

At Lanka-e-News (www.lankaenews.com), the editor and staff have received threatening phone calls and their office has been stalked by unknown persons with obvious intent to intimidate.

Lanka-e-News was blocked on the eve of the January 26 presidential election. The country’s Elections Commissioner ordered the ban be lifted, but it was re-imposed shortly after.

The IFJ is further concerned by efforts to impose restrictions on information given to the media. In a statement on February 1, the Director General of the Media Centre for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle, issued a directive preventing security chiefs and personnel from giving comments or interviews to the media.

He ordered that the media must seek official approval to report on any information regarding promotions or transfers in the security forces. Media institutions must seek written approval from the Defence Secretary for any interviews with security forces personnel.

At the government-owned broadcaster, the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), several employees belonging to the SLRC Employees’ Union (as well as the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association and the Free Media Movement, both IFJ affiliates) have had their services terminated or transferred.

The union president (Samantha Ratnayake), secretary (Lasantha Pradeepkumara), treasurer (Ranjith Pushpakumara) and 10 others have received letters of termination. They include Herbert Kumara Alagiyawanna, Kanchana Marasinghe, Gamini Pushpakumara, Indrajith Wanniarachchi, Athula Pieris, Vikum Basnayake, Ravi Abeywickrema, Nimal Tennakoon, Saman Kumara and Dulip Thusantha.

The move follows assault and intimidation of SLRC staff who sought to comply with a directive from the Elections Commissioner to abide by the rules of fair reporting ahead of the election.

Trade union leaders called on SLRC management to cancel the letters of termination and transfers immediately.

On January 30, Chandana Sirimalwatte, the chief editor of Irida Lanka, a weekly newspaper, was summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to make a statement and was then detained. The newspaper’s offices were sealed due to allegations by security officials that a news report in the paper was conspiratorial. A court ruled the article did not suggest any conspiracy and ordered the offices be re-opened.

Journalists have also reportedly been targeted in mob violence. Those who have suffered include Gunaratne Liyanarchchi and a provincial reporter from Kurunegala, as well as Rizvi Maharoof, a reporter for Sirasa TV in Anuradhapura. Two media workers from the Lake House group were attacked on February 1 and reportedly hospitalised.

“The IFJ fully endorses a letter recently addressed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Sri Lanka’s five principal organisations of media professionals, which call on him to act on his promises that reconciliation rather than vengeance will be his main priority in his second term,” White said

“We call upon the Sri Lankan authorities to heed the joint appeal by the country’s main organisations of media practitioners to deliver on the promises of truth and reconciliation held out by President Rajapaksa in the course of his Independence Day address on February 4.”