Sri Lanka has spent two decades promising justice for abducted, assaulted and murdered journalists, yet the truth remains buried in courtrooms, stalled case files and political silence. From 2000 to 2015, at least 30 major attacks on journalists were recorded: killings, white-van abductions, brutal assaults, disappearances, arson attacks on media institutions, and intimidation campaigns. Today, most of those cases remain unresolved, and the families of the victims continue to wait for justice that never arrives.
Although Sri Lanka has reported numerous murders, abductions, assaults and threats against journalists between 2000 and 2015, very little justice has actually been delivered. Many cases have dragged on for years, some have stalled without explanation, and others have never even reached court. The repeated accusations are that investigations were mishandled, evidence concealed, or suspects protected due to political, military or intelligence links. The current National People’s Power government has pledged to revive unfinished cases and ensure accountability, yet the families of victims continue to wait.
On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, attention has once again turned to where these cases now stand.
Journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda
The disappearance of cartoonist and journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda in 2010 was initially dismissed without a serious investigation. Only after the 2015 Good Governance administration came into power did the CID reopen the case and arrest several Army Intelligence personnel, including Colonel Shammi Kumararatne, who had been the commanding officer at the Giritale Army Intelligence Camp. They were produced before the Homagama Magistrate Court.
The Attorney General later filed indictments before a three-judge High Court bench. The case is currently ongoing in Colombo, more than fourteen years after his disappearance. Prageeth’s family still awaits a final verdict, and no one has yet been convicted.
Journalist Keith Noya
On 22 May 2008, journalist Keith Noya was abducted in a white van while returning home after work in the Dehiwala area. He was beaten, tortured and later abandoned in Dompe. There was no proper police inquiry at the time, as the incident occurred under the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Years later, under the Yahapalana government, the CID investigated and arrested several intelligence officers, including former Army Intelligence Chief Major General Amal Karunasekara. They were produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Court and later released on bail. The CID has now completed its investigation and handed the files to the Attorney General. Indictments are expected to be filed, but the case has not yet moved to trial.
Murder of Journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga
On 8 January 2009, Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramatunga was assassinated while driving to work in Attidiya, in the Mount Lavinia police division. Initial investigations led nowhere, and no suspects were arrested for years.
During the Good Governance period, CID investigations focused on Army Intelligence Unit members suspected of involvement. Several were arrested and produced in court. However, in February this year the Attorney General instructed the CID to release the suspects on bail, a move that triggered strong public backlash. Following protests from journalists, activists and civil groups, the order was withdrawn.
The investigation is reportedly complete and now lies with the Attorney General’s Department for a final legal decision.
Journalist Namal Damayantha Perera
On 30 June 2008, journalist Namal Perera was attacked by armed men in a white van near the Narahenpita Army Camp while travelling with a friend. After 2015, the Colombo Crimes Division reopened the case and arrested several Army Intelligence personnel including Major Prabath Bulathwatte. They were released on bail, but Perera later identified two of the suspects during an identification parade. The case remains ongoing before the Colombo Magistrate Court.
Journalist Upali Tennakoon
In January 2009, Rivira newspaper editor Upali Tennakoon and his wife were assaulted while travelling to Colombo for work. A CID inquiry during the Yahapalana era resulted in the arrest of six Army Intelligence officers including Premananda Udalagama. Upali and his wife later identified some suspects in an identification parade in Gampaha.
The Attorney General filed indictments, and the case is now before the Gampaha High Court, but no final judgment has been delivered.
Major incidents from 2000 to 2015
The Free Media Movement has documented thirty major crimes committed against journalists and media institutions during this period. Many involved white-van abductions, killings, armed attacks and arson. Several cases remain unsolved, and some were never seriously investigated.
List of documented cases:
- Mailvaganam Nimalarajan – Murder [2000.10.19]
- Rushangan Kodiswaran – Assault [2002.08.08]
- Aiyathurai G. Nadesan – Murder [2004.05.01]
- Nandasami Iyer – Murder [2004.08.16]
- Dharmaratnam Sivaram – Murder [2005.04.28]
- Railangi Selvarajah – Murder [2005.08.12]
- Sudar Oli News Agency – Bomb Attack [2005.08.29]
- Subramaniam Sugirdharajan – Murder [2006.01.24]
- Sampath Lakmal de Silva – Murder [2006.07.01]
- Subramaniam Ramachandran – Disappearance [2007.02.15]
- Subhash Chandra Bose – Assassination [2007.04.16]
- Selvarasa Rajivvarman – Assassination [2007.04.29]
- Sahadevan Nilakshan – Assassination [2007.08.01]
- T.M.G. Chandrasekara – Assault [2007.12.27]
- Lal Hemantha Mawalage – Assault [2008.01.25]
- Keith Noyar – Kidnapping and Assault [2008.05.22]
- Paranirupasingham Devakumar – Murder [2008.05.28]
- Namal Perera – Assault [2008.06.30]
- Radhika Devakumar – Assault [2008.09.08]
- Sirasa MTV/MBC Studio Complex – Arson [2009.01.06]
- Lasantha Wickramatunga – Murder [2009.01.08]
- Upali Tennakoon – Assault [2009.01.23]
- N. Vidyadaran – Kidnapping and Assault [2009.02.26]
- Poddala Jayantha – Kidnapping and Assault [2009.06.01]
- Prageeth Eknaligoda – Disappearance [2010.01.24]
- Siyatha Institute – Arson [2010.07.30]
- Lanka e News – Arson [2011.02.01]
- Gnanasundaram Kuganathan – Assault [2011.07.29]
- Uthayan Newspaper – Arson/Assault [2006.05.02 / 2013.04.13]
- Mandana Ismail – Threatening [2013.08.23]
For over two decades, Sri Lanka has promised justice and delivered delay. Many suspects belong to intelligence networks or political circles, making prosecutions difficult. Even when arrests are made, trials move slowly, evidence goes missing, and cases lose momentum.
To this day, no mastermind has been convicted in any major crime against a journalist. Each stalled file represents not only a violated life, but a shrinking space for independent journalism.
Until impunity is dismantled, every journalist in Sri Lanka continues to work in the shadow of what was done—and never punished.
