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Sri Lanka:UPDATE - Arrest of chief suspect in the disappearance of human rights defender Mr Pattani Razeek posted on: 2011/07/12

On 8 July 2011, the Colombo Crimes Division formally arrested Mr Shahabdeen Nowshaadh, for his alleged involvement in the disappearance of Mr Pattani Razeek. Mr Nowshaadh, who is the chief suspect in the case, remains in custody but has not been officially charged. It is reported that the aforementioned arrest is linked to evidence which suggests that phone calls were made from Mr Nowshaadh's mobile phone using Mr Razeek's sim card shortly after his disappearance.

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Sri Lanka: One year anniversary of the disappearance of human rights defender Mr Pattani Razeekposted on: 2011/02/08

On 9 February 2011, the next hearing in the case of the disappearance of human rights defender Mr Pattani Razeek will be heard in Puttalam Magistrate's Court in Sri Lanka. Pattani Razeek is managing trustee of the Community Trust Fund (CTF) and a member of the Executive Committee of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA). His whereabouts remain unknown since his disappearance one year ago, on 11 February 2010.

Further Information

On 10 February 2011, the final hearing with regard to an anticipatory bail application for a named suspect in the human rights defender's disappearance case will be held at Puttalam High Court. There is reportedly evidence to suggest that Mr Shabdeen Nowshadh, who has been associated with the CTF and a close acquaintance of the Minister of Industry and Commerce, placed phone calls using Pattani Razeek's mobile phone SIM card following his disappearance.

Sri Lanka - Arrest of human rights defenders Mr Aruna Roshantha and Mr Marcus Anthony Fernandoposted on: 2010/12/02

On 28 November 2010, human rights defenders Mr Aruna Roshantha and Mr Marcus Anthony Fernando were arrested on charges of conspiring against the Government in Sri Lanka after being requested to attend a meeting at the Police Headquarters to discuss their recent human rights activities.

Further Information

Aruna Roshantha is a trade union leader with the Sri Lanka All Island Fishermen's Trade Union and Marcus Anthony Fernando is the Chairperson of the Negombo Lagoon Fisher People's Union. Both are leaders in the Alliance to Protect the Negombo Lagoon.

On 28 November 2010, Aruna Roshantha and Marcus Anthony Fernando were arrested, before subsequently being released on bail, under Section 150 of the Penal Code for conspiring against, and trying to incite people to overthrow, the Government of Sri Lanka.

That morning the two union leaders had been summoned by the Negombo Police to attend a meeting with Inspector Somasiri Liyanage at the Police Headquarters in Negombo.

Sri Lanka – Journalist and human rights defender, Mr J. S. Tissanayagam, sentenced to 20 years hard labour posted on: 2009/08/31

Human rights defender and journalist, Mr J. S. Tissanayagam, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, on 30 August 2009, for "causing communal disharmony," inciting "racial hatred" and "supporting terrorism" under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). J.S. Tissanayagam is a freelance journalist for The Sunday Times and The Daily Mirror as well as chief editor of Outreach Multimedia.

Sri Lanka: Killing of Sunday Leader newspaper editor, Mr Lasantha Wickramatungaposted on: 2009/01/09

Front Line is gravely concerned by reports of the killing of Sunday Leader newspaper editor, Mr Lasantha Wickramatunga, on 8 January 2009. Lasantha Wickramatunga was a longtime critic of the Government's policy and the war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. In 2000 he was awarded an Integrity Award by Transparency International for his work exposing corruption in Sri Lankan politics.

Sri Lanka - Journalist and human rights defender J.S. Tissanayagam wins RSF awardposted on: 2008/11/21

Update

J.S. Tissainayagam has been nominated for a media freedom award for defending the freedom of information by the international media rights group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF). J.S. Tissainayagam is one of six journalists to be nominated for the award for "journalists who through their work, their principled stand or their attitude have displayed support for freedom of information." J.S. Tissainayagam remains in detention in Magazine Prison, Colombo.

Sri Lanka: Killing of human rights defender Reverend Father M X Karunaratnamposted on: 2008/05/20

Front Line is gravely concerned following the killing of human rights defender Rev. Fr. M X Karunaratnam, Chairperson of the NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR), in Vanni on 20 April 2008. NESoHR is a local, independent human rights monitoring body in the North East of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: Arrest and detention of six journalists and media workersposted on: 2008/03/18

Front Line is deeply concerned following the arrests of six journalists and media workers: V. Jesikaran, Vadivel Valarmathi, J.S. Tissanayagam, Kithsiri Wijesinghe, Udayanan, and A.G. Gayan Lasantha Ranga between 6 and 8 March 2008.