Sri Lanka: One year on; still no news of abducted journalist Ekanaliyagoda

English PEN is distressed that more than a year after the disappearance of Sri Lankan journalist Pregeeth Ekanaliyagoda there is still no news of his whereabouts or fate and his abductors are still at large. Ekanaliyagoda was abducted on 24 January 2010 and has not been heard from since. No thorough and credible investigation into his case has been made and his wife has received no response to her repeated requests for information about her husband’s fate. There are fears that pro-government forces may be responsible for his disappearance.

According to our information, political analyst, journalist and visual designer for the Lanka eNews, Pregeeth Ekanaliyagoda, was last seen leaving his office on the evening of 24 January 2010. There has been no news of his whereabouts. There are fears that he has been targeted by pro-government forces for his open support of the opposition during Sri Lanka’s 2010 presidential elections, although government sources have denied the allegation. Ekanaliyagoda is a leading columnist, and reportedly published articles in support of the defeated opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka ahead of the Sri Lankan presidential elections that took place on 26 January 2010. The Lanka eNews website was reportedly blocked during the elections, and its offices were searched by unidentified individuals on 28 January 2010. Previously, on 27 August 2009, Ekanaliyagoda had been abducted and held blindfolded overnight, and was released after being told that he was not the correct target. Family and colleagues have expressed increasing concern that the authorities have done very little to investigate Pregeeth Ekanaliyagoda’s disappearance, and there are considerable fears for his safety.

PEN expresses renewed concerns that journalists and writers in Sri Lanka continue to be targeted with apparent impunity for their dissenting views. We urge the authorities to take immediate action to ensure all crimes against journalists, including Pregeeth Ekanaliyagoda, are vigorously investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice. We also call upon the Sri Lankan authorities to abide by their obligations to the international treaties protecting free expression, in particular Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sri Lanka is a state party.

Background:

Journalists, writers and media outlets commonly suffer intimidation and violence in Sri Lanka, a situation which has continued in spite of commitments to protect freedom of expression by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. After twenty-five years of conflict between the Sri Lankan army and the Tamil Tigers, victory over the Tigers was declared by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 16 May 2009. Rajapaksa went on to win a landslide victory in the presidential elections of 26 January 2010. However, the outcome was rejected by many, including his main opposition rival and former army chief General Sarath Fonseka. General Fonseka was arrested on 8 February 2010 on charges of conspiracy, and convicted several months later. In April 2010, Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition won an overwhelming majority in parliamentary elections. Later in the year, MPs passed a constitutional amendment allowing President Rajapaksa to stand for unlimited terms in office.

Since the end of the war the state of free expression in Sri Lanka is widely believed to have deteriorated, with increased state control enabling a ‘culture of terror’ to flourish in the country, resulting in widespread self-censorship and many journalists fleeing.

TAKE ACTION

Please send appeals:

•    Expressing dismay that more than a year after the abduction of journalist Pregeeth Ekanaliyagoda his whereabouts remain unknown and that there has been no credible investigation into case;
•    Expressing renewed concern for the safety of journalists and writers in Sri Lanka, and calling on the authorities to take all necessary measures to protect those who are being targeted with apparent impunity solely for their critical writings, in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sri Lanka is a state party.

Appeals to:

His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Presidential Secretariat
Colombo 1
Sri Lanka
Fax: 94 11 2446657
Email: secretary@presidentsoffice.lk
Salutation: Your Excellency

Mr. Mohan Peiris
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department,
Colombo 12,
SRI LANKA
Fax: 94 11 2 436421

H. M. G.  S.  Palihakkara
Ambassador
Permanent Mission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
#630, 3rd Avenue (20th Floor)
New York  10017  
United States America  
mail@slmission.com
Fax 1 (212) 986-1838  

Please also send copies of your appeal letters to the diplomatic representative for Sri Lanka in your country:

His Excellency Justice Nihal Jayasinghe
High Commission of Sri Lanka
No.13, Hyde Park Gardens
London
W2 2LU
Fax: 020 7262 7970
Email: mail@slhc-london.co.uk