Urgent appeal - Defence journalist missing in Sri Lanka

Keith Noyahr, Defence writer of English weekly The Nation reported missing from late evening today 22nd May 2008.
He has left his office around 10.30 pm but has not reached home.  His vehicle was found close to his house, head lights and engine running.
Editor of the nation has made a complaint to the Dehiwala police on [...]

State torture of journalists: A blatant violation of human rights

21st May 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) notes with deep unease and outrage that it now almost six weeks since the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lank Police arrested and detained journalist J. S. Tissainayagam, columnist of the Sunday Times and Editor of the www.outreach.com website, V. Jesiharan, owner [...]

ARREST HIGHLIGHTS VULNERABILITY OF JOURNALISTS

The arrest and detention without charge of a senior journalist, Jayaprakash Tissainayagam for nearly a month is matter of grave concern that highlights the vulnerability of journalists to accusations of having links with the LTTE.  The Supreme Court, which has granted him leave to proceed with a petition of fundamental rights violation, has declined an [...]

Another nail in the coffin: The open militarisation of State owned media in Sri Lanka

21st March 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) is outraged that the government has appointed retired Army Major General Sunil Silva as Additional Director General (Administration) of the State controlled TV station Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC).  Major General Sunil Silva retired in January 2008.  
This appointment beggars belief, especially less than 48 [...]

journalist couple intimidated

The Free Media Movement expresses it serious concerned that residence of two well known journalists has been ransacked by unknown gang on 16th March 2008.  The two journalists are Sunethra Athugalpura of Lakbima newspaper and her husband Sirasa TV News Producer Sashi Kumara. Both journalists told FMM that they cannot think of any personal reasons [...]

IFJ urges Sri Lankan Government to act on SLRC Attacks

Media Release: Sri Lanka
March 14, 2008
Sri Lankan Government Urged to Act on SLRC Attacks
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands that the Government of Sri Lanka order the police to take immediate action against perpetrators of a series of attacks against staff of the state-owned Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), as the Free Media Movement [...]

Breaking news: Another Rupavahini employee assaulted! (Updated with initial FMM response)

As reported today by the Daily Mirror, the FMM is appalled to learn of another attack against a journalist at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.
Another Rupavahini employee was assaulted today. Police say the employee, Anurasiri Hettige, was beaten by an unidentified gang using an iron rod. The victim was admitted to the Colombo National hospital [...]

on the injunction issued on members of ‘Right to Life’

The Free Media Movement (FMM) notes with serious concern the implications for the freedom of assembly, association and to form and join a trade union connoted by a recent judgment of the District Court of Negombo in Case No. 2835/5. In this case, according to a statement issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), [...]

Librarian of SLRC cut with a razor knife

FMM is horrified and shocked that another staff member, Mrs. Ranjani Aluthge, librarian of the of state controlled Sri Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC) was cut with a razor knife this evening, 5th March 2008. She was on her way home traveling in a public transport bus when a young person wearing a cap cut her [...]

Sri Lankan police assault TV journalist covering bomb blast in Colombo

24th February 2008, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Free Media Movement (FMM) is appalled to learn of treatment meted out by a Senior Inspector of the Sri Lankan Police to a journalist who was on the scene of a bomb blast in Colombo. On 23rd February, Sugath Dharmapriya, a news producer of the Derana TV channel [...]