Daily Archives: January 9, 2010
Pressure Mounts On Govt. To Ensure Prompt Investigation Into Killing Of Journalists
On the first anniversary of the assassination of prominent Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has written to the Sri Lankan Government urging a prompt and effective investigation into his case together with those of the murders of other journalists over the past three years.
On January 8, 2009 Lasantha Wickrematunge, founder editor-in-chief of The Sunday Leader newspaper was assassinated by gunmen while driving to work. Mr. Wickrematunge had been a vocal critic of the government, especially with regard to the erosion of civil liberties in its campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The Shocking Behaviour of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
by Publius
With frustrated resignation, Sri Lankans are used to how government departments (the Police in particular) and public property are misused and abused by the party in power during elections for partisan advantage. For sheer insouciance though, the emergent new kid on the block during this presidential election, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC), surpasses even the chutzpah of the President in kicking aside the Seventeenth Amendment.
On the first of January, many of us would have received an unsolicited SMS from one Mahinda Rajapakse, wishing us not only a happy and prosperous new year, but also reminding us of the handsome gift he had given us in advance: a free and independent country
Monthly report No 12; period covered Dec. 2009
1. 03rd Dec 2009 – Peaceful protest by teachers attacked
2. 05th Dec 2009 – Ban on reporting IDPs still in force
3. 06th Dec 2009 – Business Tycoon threatens journalist
4. 06th Dec 2009 – TV crew attacked at UNP convention
5. 06th Dec 2009 – Prayer center attacked
6. 08th Dec 2009 – Threats to journalists is a defense matter, says governor
7. 08th Dec 2009 – Church for 3rd time attacked by mob
8. 09th Dec 2009 – Hindu temples destroyed in Trincomalee
9. 10th Dec 2009 – Journalist Tissanayaigam spends 1ooth day in hard labour
10. 10th Dec 2009 – JVP election propaganga groups attacked by thugs
11. 10th Dec 2009 – Lasantha case investigations given to CID
12. 12th Dec 2009 – Police file a case to obtain source of a news story
13. 13th Dec 2009 – Police arrives at TV station to stop a programme
14. 13th Dec 2009 – General Fonseka and Gotabhaya exchange charges on journalists were abducted and killed
15. 13th Dec 2009 – President wanted TV programme stopped
16. 16th Dec 2009 – Petition to SC on state media election coverage
17. 17th Dec 2009 – State media black out opposition candidate on nomination day
18. 19th Dec.2009 – Defense secretary sent a letter demand to Sunday Leader
19. 21st Dec.2009 – SC granted leave to proceed on e mail content case
20. 21st Dec.2009 – Media guidelines by EC for election coverage
21. 23rd Dec 2009 – AG approves bail to Tissa
22. 23rd Dec 2009 – Magistrate criticizes police action on right to association
23. 23rd Dec 2009 – IFJ led mission releases report on Sri Lanka
24. 25th Dec 2009 – TV station threatened over President’s speech telecast
25. 26th Dec2009 – Journalist’s documents set on fire
26. 28th Dec 2009 – General(retired) sends a letter demand to Sunday Leader
27. 30th Dec 2009 – State electronic media to be monitored by EC
28. 30th Dec.2009 – Jaffna still a prohibited zone for journalists
29. 30th Dec 2009 – Newspaper copies set on fire
