Rohana Kumara

Last updated
Rohana Kumara
Died7 September 1999
Colombo
NationalitySri Lankan
OccupationChief Editor of Satana
SpouseGayani Pavithra

Rohana Kumara was a Sri Lankan journalist. He was the chief editor of the pro-opposition Sinhala-language newspaper Satana. He was shot dead while he was travelling home in a taxi after having received a call that his house had been attacked. He was facing a series of defamation cases for writing about government corruption. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] The Free Media Movement and The Sunday Leader accused Chandrika Kumaratunga's security unit of being behind the attack and murder of Rohana Kumara and shielding the killers. [8] [9] [10]

Rohana Kumara had been detained earlier in 1996 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act after he reported government losses during Battle of Mullaitivu in 1996, in which the rebel LTTE routed Sri Lankan army, and put up news posters calling for the resignation of Anuruddha Ratwatte the deputy defense minister, who he held responsible for the defeat. The posters stated:

"Who is responsible for the Mullaitivu debacle? Dead bodies in the south. Ratwatte [Deputy Defence Minister] resign! Read the newspaper Hoo!"

Four other employees of the newspaper were also detained, but they, along with Rohana Kumara, were freed. [11] [12]

Minister Mahinda Wijesekara had openly threatened to kill Satana editor Rohana Kumara, The Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramatunga, and Ravaya editor Victor Ivan for articles about corruption in his ministry in the lobby of the Sri Lankan Parliament. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Editor's killing sparks assembly uproar". BBC News. 8 September 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Uproar in Parliament after editor's slaying". Tamilnet. 8 September 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Sri Lanka Pro-Opposition Newspaper Editor Killed". Tehran Times. 9 September 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Unpunished Crimes of the Presidential Security Division". Reporters Without Borders. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  5. ↑ "Media mafia and those disposable sacrifices". Sunday Times. 12 September 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Rohana Kumara". Committee to Protect Journalists. 7 September 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "RSF slams Colombo's 'lack of will' on journalists' murder". Tamilnet. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Former minister accuses Kumaratunga of attacks on journalists". Thehoot. 4 April 2002. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Ashanthi Warunasuriya. "Those Who Killed Media Freedom Still At Large". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Show's nuclear bombshell". The Sunday Leader. 30 December 2001. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "REFORM AT RISK? Continuing Censorship in Sri Lanka" (PDF). RefWorld. March 1997. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Fidelis Edge Kanyongolo; Article 19 (Organization) (1997). National Security and Legal Protection of Media Freedom. Article 19. ISBN   978-1-870798-58-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Attacks on the Press 2003: Sri Lanka". Committee to Protect Journalists. 11 March 2004. Retrieved 14 July 2021.


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