Sri Lanka: Journalists from News First attacked for covering an anti-government protest
Location: Sri Lanka, ColumboDate: July 19, 2022
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is urging Sri Lankan authorities to thoroughly investigate police attacks on journalists covering anti-government protests. This latest attack from law and order authorities on journalists is part of a pattern of police states clamping down on press freedom and making the work of journalists harder and in more hostile environments. The CFWIJ condemns these attacks and reiterates that journalists should be free to do their jobs.
The journalists, belonging to a privately owned broadcast company, News First, reported that they were being assaulted by police for trying to cover a protest outside Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s residence in the capital city of Colombo on Saturday, July 9.
That evening protesters broke into the residence and set it on fire amid severe economic crisis and civil strife in the country, the reports further said.
On Monday, July 11, Special Task Force Senior Superintendent Romesh Liyanage was suspended and is facing disciplinary action over the assaults because he ordered the attack on the journalists.
Attacks on journalists to prevent them from reporting and holding state institutions responsible is against press freedom. Those in law and order bodies exercising their power to attack journalists who are only doing their job is an abuse of it and a show of might. The right to know belongs to every citizen and it is no less for Sri Lankans who need to know about the economic and political strife happening in their country.
Anchors Sarasi Peiris and Judin Sinthujan, camera operator Warun Sampath, and digital correspondent Janith Mendis were beaten with batons used by the police while tear gas was fired at Kalimuttu Chandran, Imesh Sutherland, Chanuka Weerakoon, and Banidu Lokuruge; they were also attacked by the police when they attempted to help their injured colleagues. according to reports by News First.
Sarasi sustained injuries to her head and neck while Judin, Warun, and Janith suffered various unspecified “serious” injuries, the media outlet reported.
As of July 2022, these are the second set of attacks via police brutality on journalists. In June 2022, journalist Tina Desiree Berg was attacked while trying to cover abortion rights protests in the United States. This year many journalists were arrested and imprisoned for trying to cover any protests against the state. The CFWIJ reiterates its call for investigating attacks on journalists and stresses that the perpetrators be held accountable for their abuse of power against those who perform a public service to the citizens.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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