Put a stop to media intimidation, IFJ appeals to Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 July 2010, 13:11 GMT]
In a press alert issued by International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), a media watchdog, appealed to the Government of Sri Lanka "to act quickly to investigate the latest threat against a Sri Lankan media outlet after a threatening letter was sent to the Colombo office of Lanka-e-News," and called on Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse to "investigate and punish the perpetrators of the latest attacks on media freedom, and guarantee protection for Lanka-e-News and its personnel."

Full text of the IFJ release follows:

IFJ/IFEX) - July 7, 2010 - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to act quickly to investigate the latest threat against a Sri Lankan media outlet after a threatening letter was sent to the Colombo office of Lanka-e-News on July 2.

Lanka-e-News has been subject to a series of attacks and enforced closures in recent months. A journalist for the news service, Prageeth Eknaligoda, has been missing since January 24, two days before Sri Lanka's presidential elections. Repeated calls for an investigation into his whereabouts and well-being have not been acknowledged by the Government.

The IFJ calls on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to investigate and punish the perpetrators of the latest attacks on media freedom, and guarantee protection for Lanka-e-News and its personnel.

"We are extremely concerned at the failure to protect media personnel in Sri Lanka and call on the Rajapaksa administration to honour its commitment to protect journalists' rights and respect media freedom," IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.