Two years later, the killers still at large

Over one hundred demonstrators gathered in front of the Fort railway station in Colombo to protest that no one has been arrested in connection with the killing of a prominent newspaper editor two years ago, the disappearance of another last year and an attack on a popular television station.

Still waiting for justice

Editor of Sunday Leader newspaper Lasantha Wickrematunge, was shot dead in his car by assailants on Jan. 8, 2009. His newspaper had been critical of the government's conduct in the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels and reported on government corruption.

Two days before his killing, armed men attacked Sirasa television station studios in the suburbs of Colombo with hand grenades and gunfire. The attack caused heavy damage to its studios.

Rule of law

"Government should prove that the rule of law is still alive in this country by punishing the people responsible for these crimes. Failing to do that means that there may be some elements within the establishment who are obstructing the investigations". Said Seetha Ranjani the convenor of the Alliance of Media Organizations.

Paris based Reporters Without Borders has accused the government of hindering an investigation into Wickrematunge's killing.

100 unsolved abductions

Prageeth Ekneligoda, a political columnist and cartoonist was reported missing in January 2010, and is believed to have been abducted while on his way home from work.

"I still believe Prageeth is alive. That is what keeps me going". Prageeth's wife Sandhya Eknaligoda told Sandeshaya.

Human rights groups say there are at least 100 unsolved cases of politically motivated disappearance in Sri Lanka since 2008

The government has repeatedly denied any cover-ups and said that it continues to investigate the crimes.

Amnesty International says at least 14 Sri Lankan media workers have been killed since the beginning of 2006.

President not happy with media

The authorities say they are doing their best to solve the cases of attacks on the media. In remarks to editors last week, President Mahinda Rajapaksa implied that he was not completely happy with the media’s behaviour.

	Prageeth has been missing for over one year

An official report said he “decried efforts by some sections of the media to exaggerate some of the problems of the country” while also saying their right to criticise the government should be protected.

International rights groups place Sri Lanka very low on their surveys of media freedom.