Monthly Archives: May, 2010
3rd death anniversary of slain journalist Thevakumar observed in Moo’laay
Public organizations in Moo’laay in Jaffna observed Sunday the third death anniversary of Jaffna correspondent of Sakthi TV station, Paranirupasingam Thevakumar, 34, abducted while he was returning to his residence in Moo’laay and hacked to death in Kaakkaitheevu, a barren land near Naavaanthu’rai in Jaffna on 28 May 2008, in Ganesha Community Centre Hall in Moo’laay, sources in Jaffna said. Immediately after the killing, his wife in her statement to three Sinhalese journalists from Colombo had said that men of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), a constituent of ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), were directly involved in her husband’s assassination.
‘Lanka’ scribe assaulted
A journalist working for the ‘Lanka’ newspaper who was campaigning for an art festival in Moneragala was assaulted by a group of thugs headed by a regional politician in the area this evening, Lanka Editor Chandana Sirimalwatte told Daily Mirror online.
Lawyers file papers to withdraw Tissa’s appeal
An application has been filed for the withdrawal of an appeal filed by Senior Journalist J. S. Tissainayagam to process the Presidential pardon granted to him on the World Press Freedom Day on May 3.
Sri Lanka and Its Journalists — A Country Going Wrong
CPJ has launched a new report, In Sri Lanka, No Peace Dividend for Press. It takes a close look at the media in Sri Lanka, one year after the government declared a decisive victory over Tamil secessionists that ended 30 years of bitter, often genuinely suicidal ethnic conflict.
Gota against Leader- ex-parte inquiry in Sept.
The Mount Lavinia Additional District Judge yesterday fixed for ex- parte trial the case filed by the Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa claiming a sum of one billion rupees from ‘The Sunday Leader’ and its Publisher for publication of a news item defamatory of the Defence Secretary.
Sri Lanka: Jaffna editors navigate minefield – Reports
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka
M.V. Kaanamylnathan hasn’t left his office for four years. Sri Lanka’s civil war is over but the editor-in-chief of the Tamil daily
EKNELIGODA’S HABEAS CORPUS: RESPONDENTS NOTICED TO APPEAR BEFORE COURT ON JUNE 21
May 18, 2010: The Court of Appeal issued notice yesterday for the respondents named in the habeas corpus writ application of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, to appear before court on June 21.
Sri Lanka: UN must investigate human rights violations -AI
Amnesty International today called on the United Nations to set up an immediate and independent investigation into the massive human rights violations committed by both government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam forces, commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, during the country’s recent civil war.
IFJ Urges Speedy Processing of Tissainayagam’s Pardon
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges Sri Lanka’s Government to speed up its processing of a full and unconditional presidential pardon for senior Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam
Sri Lankan Muslim convert to be tried under Emergency Law
Sri Lankan authorities arrested a Bahraini resident with Sri Lankan nationality, Sarah Malanie Perera, on March 20 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for allegedly offending Buddhism, the Islamic Human Rights Council reported.
A fortnight gone, Tissa not yet pardoned
Two weeks had gone but formalizing the Presidential Pardon granted to senior journalist J. S. Tissainayagam is yet to be finalized. Jailed journalist J. S. Tissainayagam who is on bail is still awaiting the completion of the legal procedure to obtain the President’s pardon issued on him officially.
Thought crime, torture and kingly fiat
“Tissainayagam’s pardon is clearly an act of Sri Lanka’s international diplomacy, an act made possible by the complete absence of the rule of law as an operating principle in its legal system,” writes a columnist in the Tamil Guardian newspaper.
LASANTHA’S MURDER: SUSPECT REMANDED TILL MAY 26
The case pertaining to the Assassination of veteran journalist Lasantha Wickremathunga was taken up again today before the Mount Lavinia magistrate’s court.
In cynical gesture, Sri Lankan president pardons journalist
Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris, announced at a press conference last week that President Mahinda Rajapakse had decided to grant a pardon to journalist J.S. Tissanayagam to mark World Press Freedom Day.
Why Prageeth Ekneliyagoda went missing ? : Lanka e news Editor reveals
Sandaruwan Senadeera – Cheef editor ‘Lanka enews’
(Lanka-e-News, May 12, 2010, 10.06 AM) Prageeth Ekneliyagoda was a political columnist for Lanka e news .From the outset, he was a cartoonist with us for two years. As at today, it is 106 days since he went missing. During this whole period, his friends were searching for him, Ravaya newspaper Editor Victor Ivan wrote an article based on his imagination about his disappearance while making derogatory references to Pradeep.
RSF concerned about new media minister appointment
On 5 May 2010, Reporters Without Borders welcomed President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decision to accept Mervyn Silva’s resignation as deputy media minister after just 13 days in the position. Called an “arsonist” by the press freedom organisation after his appointment, Silva has been named deputy highways minister instead.
Where is Eknaligoda?
An organized group abducted journalist of Lanka e News website, Pradeep Eknaligoda on a contract given by certain individuals, a senior police official said referring to primary police investigations.
MTV attack suspects released
The 14 suspects arrested over the recent attack on the MTV/MBC media office in Colombo were released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate today
The diminished credibility of justice institutions
Legitimate fears arise this week as to whether the post elections policies of this government will lead to the further undermining of Rule of Law institutions in the months ahead.
