A year of silence and muted pain

Text and pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

From last year’s World Press Freedom Day to this year’s, few things have changed in the country’s media status, if any.

 Voicing for media freedom in Sri Lanka

 Protest against harassment, intimidation and attack on journalists and media workers

The New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in their Impunity Index has ranked Sri Lanka as the fourth worst place in the world for journalists, while Reporters Without Borders recorded a marginal increase in the conditions, as Sri Lanka moved from 163 to 162 place in the press Freedom Index 2013.Meanwhile, murders continue to be uninvestigated and families of slain, missing,abducted or assaulted journalists await justice. To date, physical safety remains a prime concern for Sri Lankan journalists as they grapple with the issue of shrinking space for dissent. 

 Sandya Eknalygoda, wife of missing political cartoonist Prageeth Eknalygoda awaits justice

 More than 1000 days have passed by, where is Prageeth?

These photographs were captured during the two main events held in defence of media freedom – the Black January protest, and a special event that marked 1000 days since the disappearance of political cartoonist Prageeth Eknalygoda.

 Activists and journalists taking part at a protest

Courtesy: Ceylon Today