A prominent Sri Lankan journalist was questioned recently by authorities under the country’s controversial anti-terrorism law, drawing strong condemnation from press freedom advocates.
Kanapathipillai Kumanan, a journalist known for reporting on issues affecting Sri Lanka’s Tamil community, was recently summoned by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The Digital Journalists Association of Sri Lanka (DJASL), a national media advocacy group, denounced the questioning, calling it “concerning” and “unjustified.”
In a statement released Tuesday (21), President of DJASL, Manjula Basnayake and DJASL Secretary, Thushara Witharana said that while journalists are not above the law, legal scrutiny must be conducted under standard criminal procedure and not under laws widely regarded as suppressive and politically motivated.
“The PTA has been used by successive governments to suppress freedom of expression to suit the petty political agendas of the powers that be. In the case of journalists, the law has most often been wielded against ethnic minorities and those who raise their voices in support of minority rights,” the statement said, urging the President and Media Minister to intervene.
Kumanan’s questioning comes amid renewed scrutiny of the PTA’s use, as civil society groups and international observers pressure the government to repeal or reform the law in line with international human rights standards.
Despite repeated assurances of reform, the PTA remains in force and has been used in recent years to detain activists, students, and journalists, often without charge.
Leave a comment