Investigate violence against scribes: Opposition Leader

Sampanthan thanks journalists for their ‘courage and perseverance’ in the face of daunting challenges in a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day

Leader of the Opposition Rajavarothiam Sampanthan has called upon the Government to take immediate steps to demonstrate its commitment to media freedom and ensure the protection of these freedoms in the country, in the wake of what he said was increasing media suppression all over the world.

In a statement issued to mark World Press Freedom Day which falls today, the Opposition Leader said that it was no secret that previous regimes had overlooked serious incidents of intimidation and violence against journalists, including the killing of media personnel in Sri Lanka. Sampanthan noted that disturbingly, Sri Lanka was ranked 141 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index prepared by Reporters Without Borders.

“As such, I call upon the present government to take all steps necessary to investigate all such incidents and bring to justice perpetrators of these crimes both past and present in Sri Lanka,” Sampanthan said in his press release. The Opposition Leader also expressed his gratitude to the journalistic community in Sri Lanka for their “courage and perseverance” in the face of what he said were “daunting challenges”. “Moreover, I would also like to urge all journalists in this country to stay committed to the pursuit of truth and the responsible transmission of it to the general public,” Sampanthan said in his statement to mark Press Freedom Day. (DB)