Journalists from Sri Lanka’s Northern Province have called upon the government to ensure justice for Tamil journalists who were murdered, abducted, or subjected to enforced disappearance during the country’s years of conflict and political unrest.
The appeal was made to Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kausalya Ariyaratne during a workshop held for journalists from the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts at the Jaffna District Secretariat.
The programme was attended by several government officials, including Department of Government Information Director Harsha Bandara, Jaffna District Secretary M. Pratheepan, and administrative representatives from both districts.
Following the formal proceedings, journalists raised concerns regarding the government’s response to long-standing demands for accountability in cases involving Tamil media personnel who were killed or disappeared while carrying out their work in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
Several participants referred to earlier assurances made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that justice would be pursued in such cases. They expressed disappointment that, despite those commitments, there had been no visible progress in investigations.
Responding to the concerns, the Deputy Minister stated that the authorities had begun reviewing past case files and maintained that the government remained committed to ensuring justice. She further emphasized that investigative bodies function independently and that the administration does not interfere in their work.
However, many journalists remained dissatisfied with the response and continued to press for specific information regarding the status of investigations.
Participants argued that the experiences of journalists in the North and East differed significantly from those of their counterparts elsewhere in the country because many media workers in the region were targeted while documenting the effects of war and reporting on issues affecting the Tamil community.
During the discussion, journalists referred to several prominent cases, including those involving Nimalarajan, Taraki Sivaram, and Isaippriya, and questioned why there had been little visible progress in those investigations. They also expressed concern that greater public attention appeared to have been directed towards other high-profile cases, including those of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Eknaligoda.
According to media representatives, more than 58 journalists from the Northern Province are believed to have been murdered, abducted, or subjected to enforced disappearance over the years.
As the discussion continued, journalists emphasized that concerns relating to media accreditation, employment conditions, and professional development remained important. Nevertheless, they insisted that securing justice for their colleagues remained their foremost priority.
The meeting concluded after the Deputy Minister stated that, although she was unable to provide a definite timetable for the completion of investigations, the government remained committed to addressing unresolved cases.
Before the workshop commenced, members of the Jaffna Media Centre staged a demonstration outside the District Secretariat, calling for accountability and expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in investigations involving Tamil journalists.
Representatives from several media organizations, including the Jaffna Media Forum and the Vadamarachchi Media House, participated in the programme and reiterated their demand for justice, accountability, and transparency in all unresolved cases involving Tamil journalists.
