CPJ condemns reinstatement of Army Major accused of journalist murder

by Sivakami
May 16, 2019

The Committee to Protect Journalists this week condemned Sri Lanka's decision to reinstate an Army Major accused of the assassination of the Sunday Leader editor, Lasantha Wickremetunge. 

Prabath Bulathwatte was arrested two years ago over a number of attacks against media workers and is currently on bail. However, the army commander last week announced he would be reinstated following the Easter sunday bombings by Islamist extremists. 

"Promoting to active duty an intelligence officer who has been implicated in the killing of one journalist and the torture of two others severely undermines Sri Lanka's claim that it is fighting impunity for crimes against journalists," said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler.

"Instead, the move creates new threats to journalists in Sri Lanka, who are not safe to do their jobs," Butler added. 

Journalists remain at risk in Sri Lanka, where security forces continue to harass media workers over their reporting. 

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Official trailer for film below.

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