Media Under Fire: Press Freedom Lockdown in Sri Lanka

In October 2008, a delegation from the International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission undertook a solidarity and advocacy mission to Sri Lanka to assess the current media situation in the country and support local media under the shadow of the ongoing fighting between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). While the International Mission examined the current situation of the Sinhala, Tamil and English language media, it paid particular attention to the repression against both the Sinhalese and Tamil media, which have come under heavy and sustained attack, especially in areas affected by the fighting. The International Mission found a deterioration in the press freedom situation since its last visit in June 2007, marked by continuing murders of journalists, attacks, abductions, intimidation and harassment. [Report based on the findings of the Mission, October 2008] http://www.i-m-s.dk/files/publications/1400%20Sri%20Lanka_web.v4.pdf