Silent vigil on 15 January in Colombo in memory of Lasantha Wickrematunga, editor of the Sunday Leader who was killed on 8 January. Photo: Robert Shaw/IMS.

Alarm over worsening conditions for journalists and media institutions in Sri Lanka. New report from the International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka released globally today

The International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Sri Lanka is today launching a new report, "Media under fire: Press Freedom lockdown in Sri Lanka" which uncovers a trend of deterioration of the situation facing media and press freedom in Sri Lanka.

In a press statement, The International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka condemns a "culture of impunity and indifference" in Sri Lanka:

"Since the beginning of the new year, both the killing of a senior editor and the attack on the facilities of a popular independent TV channel have lead to a total paralysis of the media community", the International Mission concludes.

The strong wording follows a series of brutal attacks on media practitioners since New Year. On 6 january the studio of the Maharaja television/Broadcasting Network was attacked by armed gunmen. On 8 january, Lasantha Wickrematunga, editor of the Sunday Leader, was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle as he was going to work, and on 15 January the police initiated a widespread search for MTV Channel 1 Chief Chevaan Daniel following accusations that he should be behind the attack on his station.

A double tragedy for Sri Lanka

Deputy director of IMS, Thomas Hughes, explains how the attacks on media is a double tragedy for Sri Lanka and a terrible loss to the world of democracies to which Sri Lanka formally belongs:

- those journalists covering the conflict in Sri Lanka are under attack and so, they are the conveyers of vital information to the people of Sri Lanka about this serious situation in which their country is engulfed. Without the free flow of information, the public is unable to make informed choices about the conflict.

- The undermining of freedom of expression will surely further erode democracy in Sri Lanka and deepen the roots of the conflict, prolonging the intercommunal hostility in Sri Lanka and adding to the continued spiral of violence, he says.

Targeted from all sides

Following months of escalation of the ongoing conflict between government forces and separatist Tamil groups, the International Press Freedom Mission visited Sri Lanka between 25-29 October to follow up on reports that, in recent months, journalists have been attacked and intimidated for protecting their sources and for seeking to report independently on the ongoing conflict.

The International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka found that media in the north of Sri Lanka are the worst affected by the ongoing conflict, as they face difficulties in getting access to war-affected areas and working under high-risk conditions thus compromising their personal safety. Furthermore, there are reports about journalists being forced to reproduce information provided by the conflicting parties.

The mission also expressed shock at "repeated instances of elected representatives and government officials using violence and inflammatory language against media workers and institutions".

Call for international support

Amid the depressing facts, the International Mission applauded those organisations in Sri Lanka who fight for press freedom:

- In an incresingly hostile environment, it is extremely important that these organisations receive international support for their work, says Thomas Hughes.

In a meeting with cabinet ministers in October, the International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka encouraged the Sri Lankan government to invite the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom and Expression in line with its committments to the Human rights Council in 2006. The group also met with the Ministerial Committee on Journalists Grievances, political parties, media owners and editors, journalists and media workers, human rights and legal experts, and the international community.

The International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Sri Lanka is comprised of twelve international press freedom and media development organisations. Since 2006, the International Mission has conducted three missions to Sri Lanka to undertake fact-finding and advocacy activities upon requests from the Sri Lankan media sector.

For more information, please contact IMS communications coordinator, Lotte Dahlmann.