Protest against media repression, threats

Several media and people's organizations came together and organized a protest in front of Colombo Fort Railway Station today (Feb. 08) against what they called the repression of media institutions and threats to media personnel.

They joined hands under the banner of 'Journalists Against Repression.'

Speaking here, secretary of the Free Media Movement Sunil Jayasekara accused the government of clamping down on the media after the presidential election.

As part of that clampdown, a partly successful attempt had been made to seal off a newspaper.

With 15 days gone since the disappearance of freelance journalist Pragith Eknaligoda, police are yet to find any clue about his fate, said Mr. Jayasekara.

The detention of 'Lanka' editor Chandana Sirimalwatte without a charge is an indication of the government’s media repression, he said.

Several journalists in state media institutions who had not joined the government’s political propaganda campaign have lost their jobs, while many others have been attacked by state-sponsored thugs, the FMM spokesman added.