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Sri Lankan Journalists Protest against Attack on Media and Murders

(NIDAHASA News) Sri Lankan journalists and right groups protested yesterday (18) demanding justice for attacks, killings, and disappearances of media workers.

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(NIDAHASA News) Sri Lankan journalists and right groups protested yesterday (18) demanding justice for attacks, killings, and disappearances of media workers.

“Two years have passed since the killing of Lasantha and attack on Sirasa, but the government has failed to bring any culprit before the law and punish them” said Gnanasiri Kottigoda, president of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists' Association.

“Murder of a newspaper editor, attacking a private television station, abducting of a political columnist, all those incidents within two years shows that there is a huge dilemma about democracy and media freedom in this country” Free Media Movement's convener Sunil Jayasekara said.

Studio complex of Maharaja Television Network (MTV) has been attacked on Jan. 06, 2009 causing station to go off air for several hours. MTV is the broadcaster of Sirasa TV channel, which was popular for its controversial news reporting.

Two days after MTV attack, Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge was killed by a suspected government military personals on Jan. 8, 2009 in high security zone. His newspaper was critical toward and reported on alleged human rights violations and government corruption.

Prageeth Ekneligoda, a political columnist and cartoonist has been missing and is believed to have been abducted while on his way home. Ekneligoda supported the opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka in and disappeared two days before the election.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, but so far no one has been held accountable for most of the attacks and killings. However government has repeatedly denied any cover-ups and said that it continues to investigate the crimes.

“By not bringing the culprits to book, the government has to take the responsibility of the killings, disappearance and the attacks,” said Gnanasiri Koththigoda, president of Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association.

Sri Lanka has a long history of impunity, and political backing for thuggery used to settle personal scores. Current regime has been largely accuse of control media using methods such as manipulating ownership changes, the withholding of state advertising revenue and licensing.

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President orders investigations into Daham’s nightclub scandal

(NIDAHASA News) President Maithiripala Sirisena call for an investigation into the Colombo nightclub attack allegedly carried out by his own son.

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(NIDAHASA News) President Maithiripala Sirisena call for an investigation into the Colombo nightclub attack allegedly carried out by his own son.

A group allegedly led by Sirisena’s son Daham attacked Clique nightclub at Town Hall, Colombo last Friday (07), allegedly after they were denied entry to the nightclub around 2.00 am. A security guard was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital following the attack with head injuries.
However, speaking to Sri Lanka Mirror web site, police denied any connection of President’s son to the incident.
“He had arrived there around 7.00 pm, and it was a long time later that the clash took place,” Sri Lanka Mirror quoted the police.
In 2013, during the time his father was a minister, Daham Sirisena was accused of attacking a youth at Passikudah beach.

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Severe weather: over 200 families missing

(NIDAHASA News) Over 200 families missing after a massive landslide in Aranayaka, in Kegalla district.

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(NIDAHASA News) Over 200 families missing after a massive landslide in Aranayaka, in Kegalla district.

“16 bodies have already been recovered and about 180 people have been rescued,” said military spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera.

“The task is to figure out what happened to them,” the Red Cross said in a statement, noting that some people may have left after local officials warned earlier this week of possible landslides.

The Disaster Management Center (DMC) reported over 350,000 people were affected by floods and landslides caused by massive rains.

Meanwhile warning has been issued to several suburbs areas of capital Colombo due to the increasing water level or Kelani river. People living in Wellampitiya, Megoda Kolonnawa, Sedawatte, Kohilawatte and surrounding areas have been asked to move to a safe place.

The depression, named BOB 01 is currently moving towards South India; however rain will continue for several areas in Sri Lanka until the end of this week, weather specialists say.

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Sri Lanka's firebrand Buddhist monk arrested

(NIDAHASA News) Supporters of Galagodaatte Gnansara started a violent protest in front of Homagama court after magistrate ordered to remand infamous Buddhist monk till 09th February.

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(NIDAHASA News) Supporters of Galagodaatte Gnansara started a violent protest in front of Homagama court after magistrate ordered to remand infamous Buddhist monk till 09th February.

The General Secretary of extreme Buddhist movement Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) surrendered to the court this morning (26) after magistrate ordered police to arrest the for alleged contempt of court. He was accused of making an argument with the judge during the court hearing of disappeared journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda's habeas corpus.

Gnanasara has alleged that arresting the Army officers over Ekneligoda's disappearance was illegal and the prosecution should be arrested for “illegal arrests” of military officers. The counsel representing the missing journalist's family informed the court that the monk has also threatened the journalist's wife Sandhya.

Protesters, including a group of monks attempted to enter the court premises challenging the court's order to arrest their General Secretary and tried to block the prison vehicle. Police however managed to take Gnanasara to the remand prison with the support of extra police team.

Gnanasara and his BBS had been accused of inflaming religious tension between Majority Buddhists and Muslims. They were also accused of being a cat's paw of previous Rajapaksa regime. However BBS denied any secret relationship with Rajapaksa brothers.

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