Commonwealth journalists condemn treatment of journalists in Sri Lanka

(February 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) in a special statement said that it is deeply concerned at the disappearance of Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda and appalled that Sri Lanka’s ‘democratic’ government continues to persecute journalists for committing the ‘sin’ of criticizing the ruling party.

Quoting the President of CJA, Hassan Shahriar the statement said that “ If Sri Lanka’s effort to ingratiate itself with the Commonwealth are to be taken remotely seriously, then Commonwealth leaders need to speak as one in condemning this appalling state of affairs”.

“Any government that subjects its independent news media to such violent and arbitary actions has no right to call itself democratic”, he said.

The statement said that the CJA together with Sri Lankan media groups that have justifiably condemned the forced suspension of a pro-opposition newspaper Lanka and the arrest of its editor and the apparent shutting down, however temporarily ...of lankaenews.com, the website to which Prageeth contributes.