Just after the Presidential Election held last week in Sri Lanka, ample of complaints were made by various parties including media institutions regarding the biased state media reporting and intervention of freedom of expression and democracy in the country. Hence, a group of media organizations have written to the incumbent president of State, Mahinda Rajapakse, to take actions against those who destroy freedom of expression of journalists and act against democracy.

The group has pointed out incidents that took place during the Presidential Election campaign where the media faced suppression and was prevented from expressing diverse and opposing views which has deteriorated further after the conclusion of the Presidential Elections. Some cases include the whereabouts of well-known political commentator Prageeth Eknaligoda from Lankaenews.com remaining unknown since his disappearance at midnight on 24th January 2010 (prior to the elections), assault incident of Programme Producer Ravi Abeywickreme of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation on 28^th January by the Transport Coordinator, in the presence of the Chairman and the Director General, and on 30^th January the incident of where the CID asked Chandana Sirimalwatta, the Chief Edior of Lanka newspaper to make a statement and was later detained and the newspaper was sealed thereafter. However, this was later revoked by a court order.

To read more, click on the link provided.