Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a
Even after the end of the decades long war, Sri Lankan state has continued to intimidate and attack journalists. Independent journalists in
"At least 11 Sri Lankan journalists were driven into exile in the past 12 months amid an intensive government crackdown on critical reporters and editors," the report said, adding the number worldwide totalled 39.
Of these journalists, 29 were driven out of threat of violence, 7 threat of imprisonment, and 2 out of harassment, the report added.
"This is a sad reality in countries throughout the world where governments allow attacks on the press to go unpunished." Joel Simon, CPJ executive director said.
Sri Lankan journalists have faced severe retribution for producing critical coverage of government military operations against the Tamil Tigers.
Upali Tennakoon, editor of Sinhala-language weekly Rivira was driving to his office when four men on motorcycles smashed his car windows, beating him and his wife with metal bars.
Though his paper was pro-government, Tennakoon had criticized a high-ranking army official.
Following his release from the hospital, Tennakoon’s wife fielded a menacing phone call urging her husband to quit journalism.
Fearing for their safety, the couple left for
Tennakoon has followed the investigation of his attack from afar, but no progress has been made.
“Without information about who did this and why, I don’t think it is safe to go back,” he told CPJ in a recent interview.
The Free Media Movement (FMM) says that the government should take responsibility for the recent spate of attacks on the media.
The group accuses the government of failing to take any concrete action against the killings, abductions and threats.
"We have to point the finger at the government as it has a huge responsibility to stop these attacks but has failed to do so," FMM Secretary Sunil Jayasekara told the BBC.
However, the government says it does not intervene in police investigations.
Media minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene admits the investigations over attacks on the media sometimes are lacking in progress and focus.
"As a person who is regularly in touch with journalists I am genuinely shocked," he told the BBC Sinhala service. "But it is up to the security services to investigate and we do not intervene."
At least nine Sri Lankan journalists have been murdered this decade without a single conviction being won against an assailant, according to CPJ research.
Following the end of the war, in a television discussion, Sri Lankan police Chief Jayantha Wickramaratne said there was evidence that some journalists, especially Sinhala nationals, were on the payroll of the Tamil Tigers.
"Although the police are aware of this treason I do not like to reveal the names as it might obstruct our investigations. They betrayed the noble profession and not only distorted and misreported against
Amid a growing state media campaign over the issue, Poddala Jayantha, a key activist of the Sri Lankan Working Journalists Association, was abducted and assaulted in
He was a strong advocate of freedom of expression and a visible participant in protests against threats to media - but had avoided playing an active role in criticising the government over the past few months.
Jayantha was one of many journalists who fled the country following the killing of Sunday Leader Editor-in-Chief, Lasantha Wickramatunge in January 2009. However, he returned to the country after three weeks.
Many leading journalists are yet to return and the fear is such that many do not wish to speak even while living in exile.
