Editor of the "Irida Lanka" newspaper, Chandana Sirimalwatte, has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department on Friday (29) afternoon. According to his lawyers he was questioned for two hours and was detained for further questioning.
Following the election victory, the ruling UPFA regime has launched a massive crackdown on all media institutions which backed the opposition candidate, former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka. On Thursday (28), the authorities took steps to close down "Lanka E News" website, following the government's decision to block the local viewers from visiting the website for two days. In a separate incident on the same day, a State television employee who had been an outspoken critic of the state media policy was assaulted at his place of work.
The arrest of Chandana Sirimalwatte, the editor of "Irida Lanka" newspaper, proves the fact that the Sri Lankan government has adopted a policy of retaliation against all the forces including media, for not backing the candidacy of Mahinda Rajapaksa. The journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka urge all the responsible governments and global bodies with utmost urgency to demand an immediate stop to ongoing witch-hunt in Sri Lanka and to release Chandana Sirimalwatte immediately.
Make phone calls and send emails to:
The President of Sri Lanka - + 94 112447400/ email -president@presidentsoffice.lk
Secretary to the President - +94 112 2326309 / email - prsec@presidentsoffice.lk
Minister of Information Anura Yapa - + 94 0773 814470 (mobile) / +94 112596557 (Office)
Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya - +94 112 421750 / +94 773088400 email - igp@police.lk
Spokesman Mr. Nimal Madiwake (Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police) - +94 72 2248235
Sri Lankan authorities have withdrawn the visa granted to a Swiss reporter covering the island's fiercely fought presidential vote and asked her to leave the country within 48 hours.
Karin Wenger of Swiss Public Radio said she was sent a letter by the immigration controller saying she must leave the island before Monday and that her application for a media accreditation card had been denied.
She had already been issued with a media accreditation by the Sri Lankan government department of information and she said her journalist visa was valid until Feb 17. 'I fear I have been kicked out for asking uncomfortable questions at a government press conference,' Wenger, who is based in New Delhi, told AFP.
A government minister had publicly criticised her for grilling the authorities on allegations of irregularities at Tuesday's vote which was comfortably won by President Mahinda Rajapakse.
There was no immediate reaction from the government or the Swiss embassy in Colombo.
A letter sent to her from the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, seen by AFP, stated: 'You are kindly informed to leave the country on or before 1 February 2010. Please note that you are not entitled to engage in any media activities in Sri Lanka during this period.
By Ranga Sirilal and Andrew Caballero-Reynolds - Sri Lankan police raided the office of losing presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka on Friday, an aide said, two days after troops had surrounded him inside a hotel on suspicion he was plotting a coup.
"The police Special Task Force broke into the office of Sarath Fonseka," aide Asanka Mahagedara told Reuters.
A Reuters journalist saw police commandoes outside the location of Fonseka's office. A police spokesman could not immediately confirm if there had been a raid.
A group of officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)has raided "Lanka Irida" news paper office short while ago. They have informed the newspaper staff that they need to record a statement from the Chief Editor of the paper, Chandana Sirimalwatte.
On Thursday (28), addressing a media conference in Colombo, the leader of the People's Liberation Front (JVP) stated that the Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is also the brother of Prsident Mahinda Rajapaksa, has threatened him over the phone saying "I will set your Lanka newspaper on fire – be warned." Responding to the allegations, the Defence Secretary denied threatening the JVP leader but admitted that he made the call to 'clarify certain matters'. The latest incident comes in the aftermath of the above accusations.
"Lanka Irida", a newspaper close to the JVP, openly campaigned for President rajapaksa's rival candidate during the presidential election. Intending to create a state of fear and to silence dissenting views, the CID raided the "Lanka" office in last September and again later in October, the editor of the paper, Chandana Sirimalwatte, was arrested and questioned.
The office of the ‘Lanka e news’, a prominent news website operating from Sri Lanka, has been sealed off by the authorities, according to the journalists attached to the news site. When the journalists reported to work today (29.01.10), they have found out that the office has been sealed off.
The website, which maintained a highly critical editorial policy towards the ruling party during the recent presidential race, was targeted by the authorities soon after the results were announced. Prior to the latest incident the Lanka e News complained that the government has blocked their website on the Election Day (26), restricting readers residing in Sri Lanka from accessing the site. Two days before the elections, another regular contributor to the website, Prageeth Eknalogoda, went missing after leaving the website office and his whereabouts remains unknown. On Thursday (28), the website reported that a group of armed men who were believed to be members of a VIP security division, has arrived at the website office in a vehicle bearing the registration number 32-8432, around 8.00 p.m. The armed group has surrounded the office, but left the scene after realizing that there was no one inside.
The latest step to shut down Lanka e News website is a part of a systematic repressive campaign unleashed by the ruling UPFA government against journalists and media institutions, aimed at silencing opposing views and voices. The Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka appeals to the international governments, rights groups and concerned parties to take immediate action by exerting pressure on the Sri Lankan government demanding an immediate stop to repressive actions carried out against Lanka E News website and its journalists.
Make phone calls and send emails to:
The President of Sri Lanka - + 94 112447400/ email -president@presidentsoffice.lk
Secretary to the President - +94 112 2326309 / email - prsec@presidentsoffice.lk
Minister of Information Anura Yapa - + 94 0773 814470 (mobile) / +94 112596557 (Office)
Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya - +94 112 421750 / +94 773088400 email - igp@police.lk
Spokesman Mr. Nimal Madiwake (Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police) - +94 72 2248235
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