‘January Is Still Black’: A call for justice and media freedom

Journalists demanding justice

Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association has organised an open public seminar titled ‘January Is Still Black.’

Unfortunately, even after a full year under the present government, the same delays, inaction, and failures to deliver justice continue

Scribes being harassed is a painful legacy borne by the Sri Lankan media community 

For nearly three decades, the media community of Sri Lanka has endured many trials and tribulations where crimes committed against journalists have gone largely uninvestigated, and justice has remained elusive. 

In this context, and with the enduring hope for justice and protection of media freedom - the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association has organised an open public seminar titled ‘January Is Still Black.’ The seminar will take place on January 27, at 3.00 p.m., at the Public Library Auditorium, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07.

For years, journalists have faced threats and intimidation, physical assaults, abductions, enforced disappearances, murders, bomb attacks on media institutions, and even arson, while those responsible have escaped accountability. This, sadly, is the painful legacy borne by the Sri Lankan media community - whose only aim is to uncover the truth and report it to the general public. 

The Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association states that a significant number of these crimes occurred during the month of January. With every change of government, journalists placed their faith in the promise of justice, only to see those hopes ultimately betrayed. Out of this collective experience of loss and neglect, the media community came to symbolically mark January as ‘Black January.’Unfortunately, even after a full year under the present government, the same delays, inaction, and failures to deliver justice continue.

What makes this even more distressing is that the current government has taken steps to release suspects connected to some of these crimes or to grant them promotions. At the same time, they have also taken action to suppress media institutions and journalists, while curtailing personal freedoms of speech and expression through the introduction of repressive regulations. As a result, this year’s Black January unfolds within a social climate marked by injustice, repression, and deep mistrust.

The event will also mark the official launch of the investigative book ‘Who is Lasantha,’ authored by senior Journalist SanathBalasuriya. The book, which examines the murder of Journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, will be presented in his memory to his brother, Lal Wickrematunge.The seminar will feature speeches by Prof. Deepika Udagama, writer GaminiViyangoda, Journalist Lasantha Ruhunage, and Journalist Amirthanayagam Nixon, and the discussion will be moderated by Journalist Herbert Kumara Alagiyawanna.

The public is invited to attend the event and contribute towards protecting the rights and freedoms of Journalists, uplift the media community in Sri Lanka, and safeguard democracy.