Press Kit

Background Information on Sri Lanka
& its State of Journalism
Prepared by:
"Free Our Press" Campaign Team
Contents
Contents ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Campaign Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Sri Lanka Facts ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Nine Provinces of Sri Lanka ........................................................................................................................... 5
Media Sources............................................................................................................................................... 6
Imprisoned (Needs Immediate Attention).................................................................................................... 8
Assassinated Journalists................................................................................................................................ 9
Fled Media .................................................................................................................................................. 16
Attacked Media ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Assassinated Distributors............................................................................................................................ 19
Disappeared Media Personnel .................................................................................................................... 20
International Press Institute (IPI) World Press Freedom Review of Sri Lanka for 2008 ............................. 21
IPI Public Statements for Sri Lanka ............................................................................................................. 23
Other Media References ............................................................................................................................. 26
Campaign Overview
Inspired by the call of conscience, a group of individuals from varying backgrounds, religious
affiliations, and different levels of activism came together to launch an improbable experiment
to change the course of press freedom in Sri Lanka.
We support the fundamental belief that all journalists living in Sri Lanka, despite any differences
in views, are entitled to the freedom of speech and expression including publication. We
encourage any social movements that aim to narrow the gap between the promise of this ideal
and the reality of our time to support our campaign.
Sri Lanka Facts
Capital: Colombo
Languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English
Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam
Head of State of the Republic of Sri Lanka: President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Table 1: Nine provinces and 25 districts, each province is administered by a directly-elected

provincial council
PROVINCE CAPITAL DISTRICT
1 Central Kandy Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya
2 North Central Anuradhapura Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa
3 Northern Jaffna Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullativu
4 Eastern Trincomalee Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee
5 North Western Kurunegala Kurenegala, Puttalam
6 Southern Galle Galle, Hambanthota, Matara
7 Uva Badulla Badulla, Monoragala
8 Sabaragamuwa Ratnapura Kegalle, Rathnapura
9 Western Colombo Colombo, Gampaha, Kaluthara
References:
The Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka (http://www.priu.gov.lk)
Constitution of Sri Lanka (http://www.priu.gov.lk/Cons/1978Constitution/Introduction.htm)
Nine Provinces of Sri Lanka
Media Sources
“Media outlets are divided along linguistic and ethnic lines, with state-run and private
operators offering services in the main languages. Many of the main broadcasters and
publications are state-owned, including two major TV stations, radio networks operated by the
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and newspapers in Sinhala, Tamil and English.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles/1168427.stm#media
Lake House – www.lakehouse.lk
STATE OWNED MEDIA PRIVATE MEDIA
Annual Publications
Budasarana
NEWSPAPERS - PUBLICATIONS
Daily News
Dinamina
Kreeda Daily Mirror - English
Mihira Lakbima - Sinhala
Nawayugaya Lankadeepa - Sinhala
Sarasaviya The Island - English
Silumina Uthayan - Tamil
Subasetha Virakesari - Tamil
Sunday Observer
Tharunee
Thinakaran
Thiniakaran Vaar
NEWSPAPERS - ONLINE
Budasarana
Daily News
Dinamina
Sarasaviya
Silumina
Sunday Observer
Thinakaran
Sirasa TV – Sinhala
TELEVISION MTV (Maharaj TV) – English
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation
TNL- English
(SLRC)
ART TV
Independent Television Network
ETV – English
(ITN)
Swarnavahini – Sinhala
Shakthi TV - Tamil
TNL Rocks – English

Sun FM – English
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Yes FM – English
RADIO
Corporation (SLBC) Sirasa FM – Sinhala

Shree FM – Sinhala
Sooriyan FM – Tamil
Shakti FM – Tamil
NEWS AGENCIES
Lankapuvath
TamilNet
Imprisoned (Needs Immediate Attention)
Arrested: Editor of the Tamil daily
February 27th newspapers Sudar Oli in Colombo
2009 and Uthayan
Sri Lanka: Editor Arrested and

Beaten
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/20
08/03/01/sri-lanka-editor-
arrested-and-beaten
Vithyatharan, N
Arrested: A senior Tamil journalist and
March 7th Sunday Times columnist
2008
IPI Calls for Release of Imprisoned
Sri Lankan Journalist
http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/
statements_detail.html?ctxid=CH0
J.S. Tissainayagam
055&docid=CMS1220872283331&
year=2008
Assassinated Journalists
Year 2009
Assassinated: One of Sri Lanka's leading
January 8th journalists, a freelance reporter
2009 for TIME
Dying for Journalism: Lasantha

Wickrematunge of Sri Lanka
http://www.time.com/time/world
/article/0,8599,1870440,00.html
Wickrematunge, Lasantha
Year 2008
Assassinated: Media representative for Sirasa,
May 28th 2008 Shakthi and MTV Television
Network
TV Reporter Slain in Northern Sri

Lanka
http://cpj.org/2008/05/tv-
reporter-slain-in-northern-sri-
lanka.php
Devakumar, Paranirupasingham
Assassinated: Associate editor of the Sri Lankan
January 28th state-owned Tamil daily
2008 Thinakaran
Journalists in Danger in Sri Lanka

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news
-and-updates/news/journalists-
danger-sri-lanka-20080205
Kasim, Suhaib M
Assassinated: Freelance journalist and deputy

June 30th 2008 head of the Sri Lanka Press
Institute (SLPI)
IPI Criticises Attacks Perpetrated

Against Sri Lankan Journalists
http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi
/statements_detail.html?ctxid=CH
0055&docid=CMS1215435309761
&year=2008
Perera, Namal
Year 2007
Assassinated: President of the Jaffna Multi
Februrary 1st Purpose Co-Operative Society
2007
Sri Lanka: Jaffna journalists
protest "targeting" by
paramilitaries
http://www.newssafety.com/inde
x.php?view=article&catid=129%3A
Gananathan, S.T.
sri-lanka-media-
safety&id=1986%3Asri-lanka-
jaffna-journalists-protest-
qtargetingq-by-
paramilitaries&option=com_conte
nt&Itemid=100465
Assassinated: Tamil student journalist and the
August 1st head of the Chaalaram magazine
2007
Journalism Student Gunned Down
in Sri Lanka
http://oldcontent.newswatch.in/n
ews-analyses/media-and-
conflict/8716.html
Nilakshan, Sahathevan
Assassinated: Journalist of Jaffna's Uthayan
April 29th 2007 newspaper
Young Journalist Shot Dead in

Jaffna
http://www.freemediasrilanka.org
/English/news.php?id=559&sectio
n=news
Rajivarman, Selvarajah
Assassinated: Student journalist and editor of

August 1st Calare
2007
Sri Lanka: Tamil Journalist Shot
Dead in Jaffna
sri-lanka-media-
Sahapavan, Nilakshan
tamil-journalist-shot-dead-in-
jaffna&option=com_content&Item
id=100465
Year 2006
Assassinated: Managing director of Tamil-
August 21st language daily Namathu Eelanadu
2006
Director-General condemns
murder of Sri Lankan newspaper
managing director Sinnathamby
Sivamaharajah
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.
php-
URL_ID=22702&URL_DO=DO_TOP
Sivamaharajah, Sinnathamby IC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Assassinated: Sri Lankan Freelance press and

July 2nd 2006 Television journalist, worked for
various Television channels, earlier
he was the defence correspondent
for Isathdina Weekly
Director-General of UNESCO
condemns murder of Sri Lankan
Lakmal de Silva, Sampath journalist Sampath Lakmal de Silva
php-
IC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Assassinated: Human Rights Abuses in Sri Lanka
May 2nd 2006 Flourish Under Veil of Secrecy
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news
-and-updates/human-rights-
abuses-sri-lanka-flourish-under-
veil-secrecy-20080502
Kumar, Suresh and

Kumar, Rajiv
Assassinated: Staff at Uthayan's Press Office, a
May 2nd 2006 Tamil newspaper
Two more journalists killed as

UNESCO presents press freedom
prize
http://www.un.org/apps/news/st
Rajaratnam, Ranjith
ory.asp?NewsID=18347&Cr=journ
alist&Cr1=&Kw1=Lanka&Kw2=&K
w3=
Assassinated: Staff at Uthayan's Press Office, a

May 2nd 2006 Tamil newspaper
Two more journalists killed as

UNESCO presents press freedom
prize
http://www.un.org/apps/news/st
ory.asp?NewsID=18347&Cr=journ
Sagayathas, Bastian George (Suresh)
alist&Cr1=&Kw1=Lanka&Kw2=&K
w3=
Assassinated: Correspondent for Sudar Oli a
January 24th Tamil newspaper
2006
A part time journalist killed in
Trincomalee
http://www.asiantribune.com/old
site/show_news.php?id=16827
Sugurdarajan, Subramaniam
Assassinated: Tamil broadcaster

August 12th
2005 Journalist and her Husband Killed
by Unknown Gunmen
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/vi
ew/full/68652/
Selvarajah, Relangi
Year 2005
Assassinated: Senior Tamil journalist, Editor
April 29th 2005 TamilNet and North Eastern
Herald
UNESCO Director-General
Condemns Murder of Sri Lankan
Journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram
"Taraki”
Sivaram, Dharmeratnam
php-
IC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Year 2004
Assassinated: Tamil activist and writer who
August 16th served as the media secretary for
2004 the Eelam People's Democratic
Party
Political Activist and Writer Killed

http://cpj.org/2004/08/political-
Nadarajah Iyer, Bala
activist-and-writer-killed.php
Assassinated: Columnist for Virakesari, the

May 31st 2004 country’s leading Tamil language
newspaper. He was the local
correspondent for Shakthi TV
News and the London based
International Broadcasting
Corporation
Journalist Killed
http://cpj.org/2004/06/journalist-
killed-6.php
Nadesan, Aiyathurai
Fled Media
Journalists flee Sri Lanka amid violent attacks and government threats, January 30 th 2009,
International Committee of the Fourth International
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/slel-j30.shtml
1. Athas, Iqbal – Sunday Times

2. Balasuriya, Sanath – Lakehouse
3. Daniel, Chevan – MTV
4. Deshapriya, Sunanda – Free Media Movement
5. Fernando, Upul Joseph - Lankadeepa
6. Gamage, Rathnapapa – Lankadeepa
7. Jayantha, Poddala – Lakehouse
8. Kurukulasuriya, Uvindu – Free Media Movement
9. Lokuhapuarachchi, Anuruddha - Reuters
10. Noyahr, Keith – The Nation
Attacked Media
Attacked: Correspondent for the state-
th
September 8 owned Tamil-language daily
2008 Thinakaran newspaper and media
secretary for a local provincial
minister
Sri Lankan Journalist Critically

Injured in Gun Attack
www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,
CPJ,,LKA,,48d8da9e2b,0.html
Devakumar, Radhika
Attacked: Deputy Editor of The Nation

May 22nd Sri Lankan columnist badly beaten
2008 during abduction
http://cpj.org/2008/05/sri-lankan-
columnist-badly-beaten-during-
abduction.php
Noyahr, Keith
Attacked: Leading news producer with the

January 25th state-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini
2008 Corporation (SLRC)
ICPJ condemns and appalled at the

knife attack against Sri-Lankan
journalist Lal Hemantha
Mawalage
http://www.mediacovenant.org/5
937.html
Mawalage, Lal Hemantha

Attacked: Tamil daily Thinakkural
August 15th SRI LANKA: Acid attack on Tamil
2007 journalist part of increasing
violence against journalists
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/a
rticle.asp?parentid=76373
Palamohan, Kalimuttu
Attacked: Chief Editor of Rivira, privately

January 23rd owned Sinhala newspaper
2009 Fresh media attack in Sri Lanka
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_
asia/7846361.stm
Tennakoon, Upali
Assassinated Distributors
Assassinated: Driver/Distributor of Uthayan
August 15th Newspaper
2006 Sri Lanka: Watchdog Denounce
Brutal Targeting of Media
sri-lanka-media-
Baskaram, Sathasivam
watchdog-denounce-brutal-
targeting-of-
media&option=com_content&Ite
mid=100465
Assassinated: Newspaper delivery agent for the
July 25th 2005 Batticaloa Eelanatham newspaper
SRI LANKA: Pro-LTTE newspaper
distributor murdered
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/a
rticle.asp?parentid=26528
Kannamuthu, Arasakumar
Disappeared Media Personnel
Missing Since: Director news, Sooriyan FM radio
28th Aug Sri Lanka: Missing News Director
2006 Feared Abducted
sri-lanka-media-
missing-news-director-feared-
Guruparan, Nadarajah
abducted&option=com_content&I
temid=100465
Missing Since: Proof-reader for the Jaffna-based

November 17th Uthayan newspaper
2007 Media Terror in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna
http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/
media-terror-in-sri-lankas-jaffna
Nimalarajah, Vadivel
Missing Since: The correspondent of the Tamil
February 15, dailies Thinakural and Valampuri
2007 Sri Lanka: Jaffna's media in the grip of
terror
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NS
F/db900SID/EMAE-
76DS5Y?OpenDocument
Ramachandran, Subramaniam
Missing Since: A newspaper delivery person of

November 5, Jaffna based Tamil daily Yal
2007 Thinakkural
Media Terror in Sri Lanka's Jaffna
http://www.ifj.org/en/articles/media-
terror-in-sri-lankas-jaffna
Sithranjan, Anthonypillai Sherin

International Press Institute (IPI) World
Press Freedom Review of Sri Lanka for
2008
Quoted Summaries
“Violence against journalists was widespread throughout the year. On 22 May, Keith Noyahr
was abducted and severely beaten. The journalist and deputy editor of weekly magazine The
Nation was allegedly targeted as a result of his independent coverage on the conflict in the
north.”
“Paranirupasingham Devakumar, a television correspondent, was stabbed to death on 28 May

in Jaffna. He was one of the few journalists still working in Jaffna, a battle ground between LTTE
and army forces, and, after Baghdad, the world’s deadliest city for journalists.”
“On 30 June, Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) journalist and deputy chief Namal Perera and his
friend were brutally beaten in a failed abduction attempt.”
“High-ranking officials contributed to the hostile media environment with both their words and
their actions. Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka implied that reporters who are
attacked have only themselves to blame, stating in a 20 July interview with the state-run
Sunday Observer, that for journalists who "damage" his organisation or individuals, "it is natural
that they should live in fear."”
“In a particularly vicious attack, journalist Radhika Devakumar was shot three times at point
blank range by a group of unknown assailants. The men arrived at her house in the early
evening of 8 September, and fired shots into her shoulder, chest and abdomen. Her life was
saved by immediate medical attention after family members rushed her to the hospital. She
had been working as a Tamil-language journalist for numerous publications and broadcasters.
Like many journalists in Sri Lanka, she also worked in politics.”
“Towards the end of the year, BBC’s Sinhala service was repeatedly interfered with. The
Defence Ministry website also singled out the station for criticism for reporting on civilian
deaths in war zones, and the state-owned Sri Lanka Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC) in August
began broadcasting programs right after BBC programming to present the government’s views
on its reports.”
IPI Recommendations
1. Discourage physical attacks against journalists by tackling impunity 
2. Stop use of anti-terrorism legislation for media harassment 
3. End anti-media rhetoric by high-ranking public officials
References
World Press Freedom Review, Sri Lanka – 2008

(http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/freedom_detail.html?country=/KW0001/KW0005/KW0132/)

(http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/freedom_detail.html?country=/KW0001/KW0005/KW0132/&year=2007)


IPI Public Statements for Sri Lanka
IPI Calls Impunity a ‘Dark Stain’ on Sri Lankan Government
January 19th 2009
The International Press Institute joined other leading media rights organisations today in
condemning a "culture of impunity and indifference" over attacks on journalists in Sri Lanka.
Since the beginning of the year, the killing of a senior editor and the attack on the facilities of a
popular independent TV channel have led to a paralysis of the media. In the wake of these
events, an extreme sense of anxiety has gripped the journalists’ community about their basic
safety and working conditions…
http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/statements_detail.html?ctxid=CH0055&docid=CMS1232363
582054&year=2009
Editor Shot Dead in Sri Lanka
January 9th 2009
The murder of Lasantha Wickremetunge, known for his exposure of high level corruption and
wrongdoings, is a shocking reminder of the dangers facing Sri Lanka’s courageous journalists,
for whom death is all too often the ultimate form of censorship…
155738&year=2009
IPI and IFJ Call For International Attention on Landmark Journalists’ Rights Case in Sri Lanka
November 7th 2008
The International Press Institute (IPI) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) call on
colleagues in South Asia and international press to report loudly and widely on the current trial
of senior Tamil journalist J.S. Tissainayagam who is defending himself against terrorism charges
in the Colombo High Court this week…
881425&year=2008
IPI Joins International Mission to Sri Lanka, Finds Deterioration of Press Freedom Situation
November 3rd 2008
The International Press Freedom Mission to Sri Lanka, on its visit between October 25 and 29,
found a deterioration in the press freedom situation since its last visit in June 2007, marked by a
continuation in murders, attacks, abductions, intimidation and harassment of the media. In the
recent World Press Freedom Index published by RSF, Sri Lanka has fallen to the lowest press
freedom rating of any democratic country worldwide…
800059&year=2008
IPI Expresses Concern at Interference with the Distribution of Daily Newspaper in Sri Lanka
October 23rd 2008
The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and
leading journalists in over 120 countries, is deeply concerned about the recent interference with
the distribution of the daily newspaper Uthayan in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna province, and the
harassment of its journalists…
289119&year=2008
IPI Calls for Release of Imprisoned Sri Lankan Journalist
September 8th 2008
The recent indictment of Sri Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam, after being held in detention
for almost six months by the country’s Terrorist Investigation Department (TID), is a shocking
reminder of the continued persecution of journalists in Sri Lanka…
283331&year=2008
IPI Criticises Attacks Perpetrated Against Sri Lankan Journalists
July 7th 2008
leading journalists in over 120 countries, expresses its concern at the recent assaults and
abductions of media workers in Sri Lanka, and the failure of the authorities to bring the
perpetrators to justice…
309761&year=2008
IPI Condemns Assault on Sri Lankan Editor, Urges Investigation Into Incident
May 23rd 2008
leading journalists in over 120 countries, condemns the abduction and beating of Sri Lankan
editor Keith Noyahr during the night of May 22…
326945&year=2008
IPI Condemns Assault and Arson Attack on Sri Lankan Publications’ Printing House
November 21st 2007
leading journalists in over 120 countries, strongly condemns the armed raid on Leader
Publications’ printing house and the arson attack on its printing presses and printed copy…
155694&year=2007
International Fact-Finding and Advocacy Mission to Sri Lanka
October 11th 2006
From 9 to 11 October 2006, a high-level five member delegation representing the International
Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission (also referred to as the International
Mission), which is comprised of international press freedom and media development
organisations, undertook a fact-finding and advocacy mission to Sri Lanka…
445841&year=2006
IPI Outraged by Death Threats Against FMM Leadership in Sri Lanka
May 12th 2005
Two members of the Free Media Movement (FMM), an independent group of editors and
leading journalists committed to freedom of expression and opinion, have received death
threats from a group calling itself "Theraputtabhaya force"…
178940&year=2005
Other Media References

US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations' hearing on Sri Lanka
http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg090224p.html
Journalists in Sri Lanka have come under a growing number of attacks and intimidation according to
media rights groups.
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/international/2009/02/18/ic.feb.sri.lanka.media.bk.b.cnn.ht
ml

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Background Information on Sri Lanka

& its State of Journalism

Languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English

Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam

Head of State of the Republic of Sri Lanka: President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Table 1: Nine provinces and 25 districts, each province is administered by a directly-elected

PROVINCE CAPITAL DISTRICT

1 Central Kandy Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya

2 North Central Anuradhapura Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa

3 Northern Jaffna Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullativu

4 Eastern Trincomalee Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee

5 North Western Kurunegala Kurenegala, Puttalam

6 Southern Galle Galle, Hambanthota, Matara

7 Uva Badulla Badulla, Monoragala

8 Sabaragamuwa Ratnapura Kegalle, Rathnapura

9 Western Colombo Colombo, Gampaha, Kaluthara

STATE OWNED MEDIA PRIVATE MEDIA

TNL Rocks – English

Corporation (SLBC) Sirasa FM – Sinhala

Sri Lanka: Editor Arrested and

Dying for Journalism: Lasantha

TV Reporter Slain in Northern Sri

Journalists in Danger in Sri Lanka

Assassinated: Freelance journalist and deputy

IPI Criticises Attacks Perpetrated

Young Journalist Shot Dead in

Assassinated: Student journalist and editor of

Assassinated: Sri Lankan Freelance press and

Kumar, Suresh and

Two more journalists killed as

Assassinated: Staff at Uthayan's Press Office, a

Two more journalists killed as

Assassinated: Tamil broadcaster

Political Activist and Writer Killed

Assassinated: Columnist for Virakesari, the

1. Athas, Iqbal – Sunday Times

Sri Lankan Journalist Critically

Attacked: Deputy Editor of The Nation

Attacked: Leading news producer with the

ICPJ condemns and appalled at the

Mawalage, Lal Hemantha

Attacked: Chief Editor of Rivira, privately

Missing Since: Proof-reader for the Jaffna-based

Missing Since: A newspaper delivery person of

Sithranjan, Anthonypillai Sherin

“Paranirupasingham Devakumar, a television correspondent, was stabbed to death on 28 May

World Press Freedom Review, Sri Lanka – 2008

World Press Freedom Review, Sri Lanka – 2007

World Press Freedom Review, Sri Lanka – 2006

World Press Freedom Review, Sri Lanka – 2005

January 19th 2009

Editor Shot Dead in Sri Lanka

January 9th 2009

November 7th 2008

November 3rd 2008

October 23rd 2008

IPI Calls for Release of Imprisoned Sri Lankan Journalist

September 8th 2008

July 7th 2008

May 23rd 2008

November 21st 2007

October 11th 2006

IPI Outraged by Death Threats Against FMM Leadership in Sri Lanka