Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) vehemently condemn disruption of a yet another workshop for Tamil speaking journalists and urge the government to immediately act to stop such activities and allow media-related training for the development of the independent media
TISL also urge the government to secure the safety of Sunil Jayasekara convener of the Free Media Movement who has been threatened with life by unknown persons.
The Workshop co-organised by Rights Now Collective for Democracy and the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) was to be held at the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) on the 26th was called off abruptly after a mob protested outside the institute in Narahenpita. A crowd of around 30 to 40 people protested in front of the institute in Kirula Road, Colombo 5, around 9.30 a.m. shouting slogans accusing its authorities of supporting illegal activities and the LTTE. Later the protesters handed over a letter to the institute security guard threatening to cause physical harm if its officials continued to assist such workshops.
Meanwhile, it was also reported on Friday night seven journalists arriving from Jaffna for the workshop were detained by police at the Omanthai checkpoint on the grounds that the van in which they were travelling was transporting cannabis. Later the convener of the Free Media Movement was threatened by an unidentified person on his mobile phone.
This is not the first reports of intimidation to stop Tamil journalism training programs in the country. TISL’s Investigative Journalism training workshop was also abandoned due to intimidation by the military and organized mob in May and June.
These developments show that suppression of independent media in Sri Lanka is a well planned strategy. It has deteriorated the freedom of expression and weakened democratic governance. Hence, the government should initiate a credible investigation on this blatant violation of rights of the journalists and upheld the freedom of expression rights in the country.