Journalists in Jaffna boycotted a media workshop led by Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, protesting the lack of progress in cases involving Tamil journalists killed or disappeared during and after the armed conflict.
Jaffna-based journalists staged a demonstration outside the Jaffna District Secretariat during a government-organized media workshop, calling for accountability for Tamil journalists who were killed or went missing during the armed conflict and subsequent years. The protest, organized by the Jaffna Press Club, saw journalists chanting slogans at the main entrance as Deputy Minister Kaushalya Ariyaratne entered through an alternate route to attend the workshop, which was meant for media practitioners from the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts.
The gathering reflected mounting frustration among the journalist community over unresolved cases. According to reports, protesters attempted to enter the secretariat to present their demands directly but were prevented by police personnel stationed at the location. Throughout the demonstration, journalists continued voicing their demands for justice despite the heavy security presence.
Jaffna Press Club President K. Selvakumar used the occasion to criticize the government's approach to the matter. He stated that the Deputy Minister's decision to avoid engaging with the protesting journalists suggested a lack of commitment from the National People's Power administration toward achieving justice for murdered journalists. Selvakumar noted that two years had elapsed since the current government took office, and drew comparisons with predecessors in the Media Ministry portfolio, suggesting that earlier office-holders had demonstrated greater willingness to meet with journalists and discuss investigation delays.
