Protests mark Press Freedom Day

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 May 2005, 11:02 GMT]
Marking the World Press Freedom day, hundreds of journalists of print and electronic media demonstrated carrying placards with photos of Mr Sivaram and shouting slogans demanding freedom of expression, in front of the Fort railway station in Colombo Tuesday, sources said.

A poster issued by the Free Media Movement.

Free media movement (FMM), Srilanka Tamil media Alliance, and journalists from other electronic and print media participated in the protest.

Protesters demanded Sri Lanka's President Ms Kumaratunge to hold independent inquiry to identify the killers.

The protest march started from Colombo Fort station, moved towards the lakehouse circle, and turned back to the Fort station.

The meeting ended with FMM Chairmen Sunantha Desapriya, Editor of Sunday Observer Ajith Samaranayake, President of Srilanka Tamil Media Alliance SLTMA) Ananda Balakidnar speaking to the marchers.

Sources said the demonstration was the largest seen in the last seven years. Similar demonstration was last held against Ms Kumaragunge government in 1998.

The protesters said that the killing was a serious threat to media freedom.

TNA parliamentarians Mavai Senathiraja, Raviraj, Suresh Premachandran, and Sivajilingam attended the demonstration.

The protest lasted about one and half hours.

Police provided security to the event.