While Sri Lanka's armed forces battle Tamil rebels in the north, sections of the country's media are embroiled in a fight to pursue their mission as journalists. Three unrelated events have brought the issue into sharp focus. On March 14, Anurasiri Hettige, an employee of the state television corporation, Rupavahini, was attacked with an iron club as he waited for a bus in a Colombo suburb. Media rights groups link the attack to an incident on December 27, when minister Mervyn Silva stormed into Rupavahini and abused staff over a news programme.
On the same day that Hettige was attacked, an unidentified gang stormed the home of journalist M Parameshwari in Gampola, central Sri Lanka. Parameshwari had spent three months in detention last year after being held on charges of helping Tamil separatist. She was released after the authorities failed to prove their case. An equally disturbing incident was the arrest of five media workers for links with 'Outreachsl.com' a recently launched website focusing on affairs related to the ethnic conflict.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.