Several international media watchdogs warned last week that free expression conditions in Sri Lanka appear to be deteriorating amidst escalating violence in the country, which claimed the life of another journalist on 2 July 2006.
Unidentified gunmen shot dead freelance journalist Sampath Lakmal de Silva after abducting him from his parents’ home in Borallasgamuwa.
De Silva, who wrote on defence matters, including corruption in the armed forces, was the first Sinhala journalist killed in Sri Lanka in eight years.
UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said it was “crucial” that the circumstances of Mr. Lakmal de Silva’s abduction and murder be elucidated without delay and the perpetrators brought to justice. “Democracy is truly in great danger when crimes against journalists go unpunished,” he declared.
Since 2001, every journalist killed in Sri Lanka (except de Silva) has been a Tamil, says FMM. Most of which have been targeted after criticising Army-backed paramilitaries.
The Free Media Movement (FMM), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) expressed concerns last week, shortly after FMM slammed the introduction of censorship by proxy two weeks ago.
De Silva had recently written reports that embarrassed elements of the security forces, according to FMM. He was the former defence correspondent for the Sinhala-language newspaper “Isathdina Weekly”.
De Silva’s murder occurred right after the conclusion of an IFJ mission to Sri Lanka from 25-30 June, where the international group met with its local affiliates to discuss the situation facing journalists.
According to IFJ, six media workers have now been killed in Sri Lanka since January 2005. None of the crimes have been either investigated or solved. The murdered journalists include Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, Relangi Sevaraja, Dharmeratnam Sivaram, Suresh Kumar and Ranjith Kumar.
FMM says the first six months of this year have been marked by the increased harassment of journalists, media outlets and human rights activists by ultra-nationalist groups and government forces. Those who support a negotiated settlement of the conflict are labeled as “traitors” and supporters of the Tamil Tigers.
FMM notes that Tamil journalists face particular challenges in reporting the news. The majority of attacks have been against Tamil journalists and Tamil-language outlets.
Reporters Without Borders voiced fears last month, after pro-government media made threats against five Sri Lankan journalists who had met a Tamil Tiger leader.
“The recent closure of some satellite services by the government and a decision to bring back a state media regulatory body, as well as the continued accusations by members of government and the media against Tamil journalists and their supposed sympathisers are all worrying indications that press freedom in Sri Lanka is heading in a backwards direction,” IFJ President Christopher Warren said on June 30.
Unidentified gunmen shot dead freelance journalist Sampath Lakmal de Silva after abducting him from his parents’ home in Borallasgamuwa.
De Silva, who wrote on defence matters, including corruption in the armed forces, was the first Sinhala journalist killed in Sri Lanka in eight years.
UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said it was “crucial” that the circumstances of Mr. Lakmal de Silva’s abduction and murder be elucidated without delay and the perpetrators brought to justice. “Democracy is truly in great danger when crimes against journalists go unpunished,” he declared.
Since 2001, every journalist killed in Sri Lanka (except de Silva) has been a Tamil, says FMM. Most of which have been targeted after criticising Army-backed paramilitaries.
The Free Media Movement (FMM), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) expressed concerns last week, shortly after FMM slammed the introduction of censorship by proxy two weeks ago.
De Silva had recently written reports that embarrassed elements of the security forces, according to FMM. He was the former defence correspondent for the Sinhala-language newspaper “Isathdina Weekly”.
De Silva’s murder occurred right after the conclusion of an IFJ mission to Sri Lanka from 25-30 June, where the international group met with its local affiliates to discuss the situation facing journalists.
According to IFJ, six media workers have now been killed in Sri Lanka since January 2005. None of the crimes have been either investigated or solved. The murdered journalists include Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, Relangi Sevaraja, Dharmeratnam Sivaram, Suresh Kumar and Ranjith Kumar.
FMM says the first six months of this year have been marked by the increased harassment of journalists, media outlets and human rights activists by ultra-nationalist groups and government forces. Those who support a negotiated settlement of the conflict are labeled as “traitors” and supporters of the Tamil Tigers.
FMM notes that Tamil journalists face particular challenges in reporting the news. The majority of attacks have been against Tamil journalists and Tamil-language outlets.
Reporters Without Borders voiced fears last month, after pro-government media made threats against five Sri Lankan journalists who had met a Tamil Tiger leader.
“The recent closure of some satellite services by the government and a decision to bring back a state media regulatory body, as well as the continued accusations by members of government and the media against Tamil journalists and their supposed sympathisers are all worrying indications that press freedom in Sri Lanka is heading in a backwards direction,” IFJ President Christopher Warren said on June 30.
