Democracy Continues, Sri Lanka Style...

Free Media Movement calls for Immediate Investigation into
Complaint of abuse and threats by Sri Lanka President Rajapakse

13 January 2005

"The seriousness of a mere allegation that the President has allegedly used abusive and threatening language against a senior Editor sends shock waves in the media community and serves as a sombre reminder of the insecure and dangerous situation that journalists in Sri Lanka have to face. The FMM strongly defends the right to criticise stories published by media provided all such criticisms are made within a democratic framework. It behoves those holding the highest offices in Sri Lanka to set an example by adhering to accepted democratic norms and principles and help build a progressive media culture in Sri Lanka..  we strongly regret the inability to obtain an official response to this allegation from the President's Office to date, even though requests were made to this effect..."

Text of FMM Press Release, 13 January 2005
Excerpts from Complaint by Editor Sunday Leader to Inspector General of Police, 11 January 2006

Text of FMM Press Release, 13 January 2005

FMM expresses serious concern regarding the complaint made by the Editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper Mr. Lasantha Wikramatunge to the Inspector General of Police alleging that President Mahinda Rajapaksa threatened him with abusive language over the telephone.

Mr. Wikramatunge sent his letter of complaint to the Inspector General of Police on 11.01.2006 and copied it to FMM as well. According to Mr. Wikramatunga's complaint the President used abusive and threatening language on the grounds that the Sunday Leader newspaper mentioned his wife.

FMM unreservedly condemns such behavior of the President if Mr. Wickramatunge’s allegations are verified to be true. Furthermore, we strongly regret the inability to obtain an official response to this allegation from the President's Office to date, even though requests were made to this effect.

The FMM considers any threat from any source in response to a story published by media as a serious threat to the inviolable freedom of expression.

The seriousness of a mere allegation that the President has allegedly used abusive and threatening language against a senior Editor sends shock waves in the media community and serves as a sombre reminder of the insecure and dangerous situation that journalists in Sri Lanka have to face.

The FMM strongly defends the right to criticise stories published by media provided all such criticisms are made within a democratic framework. It behoves those holding the highest offices in Sri Lanka to set an example by adhering to accepted democratic norms and principles and help build a progressive media culture in Sri Lanka.

The allegations made by Mr. Wickramatunge demand immediate investigation. The FMM strongly recommends an urgent and impartial inquiry into this matter in the hope that such an investigative process will restore public confidence in high political office and media freedoms in Sri Lanka.

Sunanda Deshapriya
Free Media Movement

Excerpts from Complaint by Editor, Sunday Leader to the Inspector General of Police, 11 January 2006

Mr Chandra Fernando,
Inspector General of Police
Police Headquarters Colombo OT

Dear Sir,

At 11. 13 a.m. today I received a call on my mobile phone from telephone number 239 2047.  Speaking in Sinhala, the operator told me that she had a call for me from His Excellency, The President. The number is registered on my mobile phone, a certified copy of which can be furnished if necessary. A man then spoke to me in English, and asked me to hold the line as His Excellency the President wished to speak to me. Shortly thereafter, President Mahinda Rajapakse came on the line. I recognized his voice because he has on several occasions spoken with me by telephone, including after his election as President. I have known President Rajapakse and associated with him for more than 20 years prior to that and am well acquainted with his voice.

I made a contemporaneous note of the conversation, in Sinhala, which I attach hereto, together with a translation in English.
As you will see from this note, President Rajapakse used foul, abusive and threatening language unbecoming the high office he holds. He told me repeatedly, "what have you written about Shiranthi in the Leader!" However, when I asked him, "What is it you are referring to? Have you read whatever it is you are referring to?" he replied with the words, "I know what to do to you. He continued to mouth vile and defamatory references to my mother and threatened to destroy me. Wait and see what I am going to do to you." As the President continued, apparently in a state of hysteria, I told him, not to threaten me and that I will not give into such threats. I have no choice but to interpret the President's words, however, as a threat to my life....

I am therefore bringing this matter to your urgent attention and requesting you to take immediate steps to ensure my security given the serious nature of the threats made by the President of the country who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Security Forces and Defence Minister. I also request you to investigate this matter fully and I am willing to furnish you with such information as may be necessary to facilitate such an inquiry.

I wish to remind you that I consider this a grave threat to my life especially given that several journalists have been assassinated in recent years, including Mr Rohana Kumara, Mr Mariyadasan Nimalaranjan and Mr Dharmaratnam Sivaram. In some of these cases, the murders were preceded by threats made by leading politicians. ... In the run up to the presidential election of November 17, 2005, The Sunday Leader press at Ratmalana was torched. ...

.... I would be grateful if you would kindly arrange therefore without delay, to provide me with adequate security against this threat.

In the hope that it will result in additional pressure on President Rajapakse to desist from the criminal course of action he appears to be contemplating, I am copying this letter to the heads of foreign missions in Colombo, the Leader of the Opposition and the Presidents of the Free Media Movement, Transparency International and Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

Lasantha Wickrematunge, Attorney-at-law,
Editor, The Sunday Leader.