Five media groups concerned over threats to 2 SLWFA members

Five local media rights groups, led by the Free Media Movement, say they are concerned by a thinly veiled repeatedly expressed threat to two leading members of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

In a joint letter to Mr. Rajapaksa, the media rights groups note with concern his statement that if SLWJA President Sanath Balasuriya and Secretary Poddala Jayantha continue criticizing the military, he nor the government are in a position to prevent action taken against them by groups/persons who revere the Army Commander.

The letter has been signed by the FMM, the SLWJA, the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union, the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum and the Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance.