Marking the World Press Freedom Day in Dakar in Senegal UNESCO Director General Koïchiro Matsuura says, "This shameful crime has led to a great loss for Sri Lankan journalism and for UNESCO.

Mr Sivaram had worked with us on the creation of the Media Resource and Training Center, MRTC, in Jaffna in the North of Sri Lanka."

Pointing out that attacks against the media are cowardly attacks against democracy and rule of law the UNESCO Director General said, "I trust that the authorities will do all in their power to bring those responsible for this murder to justice"

"They will not let criminal actions undermine coexistence in a country that has suffered so much from internal strife in recent decades.", he added.