Court to decide on Yoshitha’s bail application on March 14

Concerns raised over attack on media freedom in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan authorities must thoroughly investigate several recent attacks against journalists, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that journalists can report freely in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said today. On December 6, a group of men beat Thusitha Kumara de Silva, a reporter for the?Daily Mirror?and?LankaDeepa?newspapers, and his wife with helmets and sticks near their home in Beruwala, western Sri Lanka, according to?news?reports. They were both admit

17 Dec, 2019

Alleged ?white van? driver and victim remanded

A man who had claimed to be a driver of a ?white van? used to abduct people and another person who claimed to have been a victim of a ?white van? abduction, have been remanded till 27 December. They were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) last week. Both suspects had appeared at a media conference organised by former Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, ahead of the Presidential election. At the press conference held on 10 November, former Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne was p

16 Dec, 2019

Sri Lankan asylum-seeker family to remain on Christmas Island

A Sri Lankan Tamil asylum-seeker family detained on Christmas Island will remain there for at least two more months ahead of a Federal Court trial, the Australian Associated Press reported. Sri Lankan couple Priya and Nades Murugappan, and their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa, are fighting federal Government attempts to deport the family. Priya, Nades and Kopika have already been refused refugee status, but a Federal Court fight hinges on Tharunicaa and her right to apply for

16 Dec, 2019