Sri Lanka’s suppression of free speech takes many forms, from violent attacks on political opponents of the regime to a draft law giving the government the final say on what is published. A handful of independent online start-ups are doing their best to be heard despite the heavy odds.
Sri Lanka: Free Media Movement condemns arrest of protesting teachers and activists ifex.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ifex.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Female journalists fight sexual harassment in Sri Lanka
Media organizations call on the government to take immediate action to protect women
Updated: July 05, 2021 06:24 AM GMT
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A man reads a newspaper covering the results of Sri Lanka s parliamentary elections in Colombo in August 2020. Female journalists say they are facing sexual harassment in the country s newsrooms. (Photo: AFP)
Sri Lankan media organizations have urged the government to expedite investigations into the sexual abuse of female journalists.
Journalist Sarah Kellapatha alerted others through Twitter about her experience of sexual harassment.
After sharing Kellapatha s experience on social media, several female journalists have raised their voice against sexual violence in the workplace.
LankaWeb – Sri Lanka: Government to investigate endemic sexual abuse in newsrooms lankaweb.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lankaweb.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
IFJ 14 May 2021
Blocking media access and rights in Northern Sri Lanka
The people of the remote island of Iranaitheevu in Northern Sri Lanka have an important story to tell the world. But journalists are being denied access, writes Ruki Fernando. Map of island of Iranaitheevu.
Article 14 (1) (a) of the Sri Lankan constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, including publication, and article 14 (1) (h) guarantees freedom of movement. While Article 15 specifies that these can be restricted for limited number of specified reasons on the condition that such restrictions are prescribed by law.
As a writer to newspapers and websites, as well as being an educator and speaker at forums related to rights and reconciliation, the necessity of access and travel for my work is a critical feature of my work. However, I have encountered arbitrary restrictions on movement several times in the past, mostly in the former war affected Northern and Eastern provinces. Such restric