Daily Archives: January 31, 2010
S.Lanka editor ‘detained’ for backing opposition
Media groups in Sri Lanka on Sunday accused the government of detaining a senior editor and shutting down his newspaper because the publication backed the losing opposition candidate in elections.
Wife pleads for missing Sri Lanka journalist
The wife of a Sri Lankan journalist who mysteriously disappeared one week ago has pleaded that he be freed by whoever is holding him. Prageeth Eknaligoda’s colleagues said he wrote articles favourable to losing presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka.
More state media staff under probe
More staff from the state electronic and print media including a deputy Director of the state owned television Rupavahini, are under probe for their alleged involvement in a coup attempt by the opposition against the government, state television reported in its night news bulletin.
Protecting Democracy Post-Election: An end to political violence and revenge
Centre for Policy Alternatives
30th January 2010: A series of recent events connected to the presidential election last week give rise to extremely serious concerns about the state of democracy in Sri Lanka today. The campaign period, the election and its aftermath were marred by unprecedented disregard for the Constitution and the law, resulting in not only violence and large-scale abuse of public resources, but also in setting a number of disquieting precedents with regard to the respect for constitutional authority and democratic values.
Facebook users come under scrutiny
Authorities are monitoring the user activities of Facebook and Twitter social networking sites as some members of these networks allegedly defame prominent personalities and spread false rumours against the government.
Indian Journalist on firing line in Colombo
The journalist thought that would make a good picture back home. He aimed his camera to take a shot. The commando aimed his gun and shouted “stop taking pictures or I will shoot you.”
The diary of terror – 30th January 2010
The premises at Delkanda, Nugegoda, of the Lanka newspaper published by the JVP was sealed off by a group of officers from the CID yesterday. The editor, Chandana Sirimalwatha, who has been arrested previously and is still in detention, was brought to the premises and the sealing off took place in his presence. All the employees were told to take any of their personal belongings and then forced to leave the premises.
His face said it
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene
(January 31, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Quite apart from the frenzied allegations and counter allegations that have now come to dominate much of public talk on Sri Lanka’s Presidential Elections this Tuesday, one profoundly pathetic image dominates my mind, putting into doubt the very basis on which I will decide whether or not to exercise my vote in future elections in this country.
Time for an independent press?
Sevanti Ninan
Will Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term as President of Sri Lanka usher in a more liberal attitude towards private channels and newspapers? With the re-election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka, many will be watching to see what his next term will mean for the government’s policy towards private media.
Condemn the closure of Lanka News paper office and detention of its editor- 5 media
We, 5 media organizations of Sri Lanka consider the steps taken by Criminal Investigation Department of Sri Lanka police to seal the Lanka newspaper office and arrest/detain its editor Chandana Sirimalwatta as a fatal blow to media freedom and democracy in Sri Lanka.
