Sri Lanka ranked fourth on impunity index on media

Sri Lanka has been ranked as the fourth worst place for journalists worldwide in the impunity index of the New York based-Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The report ranks countries where journalists are slain and the killers go free.

The Philippines ranked behind only Iraq, Somalia and Philippines in the impunity index.

Behind the worst four are Colombia (5), Afghanistan (6), Mexico (7), Pakistan (8), Russia (9), Brazil (10), Nigeria (11) and India (12).

CPJ executive director Joel Simon said in the index report that in too many countries, the climate of impunity engenders further violence and deprives citizens of their basic right to information.

“Growing awareness about the threat posed by failure to solve journalist murders must be translated into concrete action. Governments and the international community need to work together to end this vicious cycle,” he said.

Excerpt from report;

Though Sri Lanka’s civil war ended nearly five years ago, the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa has shown no political will to address its record of perfect impunity in the nine murders of journalists that have taken place under his leadership, first as prime minister and then as president. Government and military officials are suspected to be behind several of the murders, including the 2009 assassination of prominent editor Lasantha Wikramatunga, known for his critical reporting, and the nearly 10-year-old shooting of Aiyathurai Nadesan, penname Nellai G. Nadesan, an award-winning journalist who was threatened before his death in response to his reporting about the army. Impunity in Sri Lanka is a major factor behind high numbers of journalists going into exile, according to CPJ research.

Impunity Index Rating: 0.443 unsolved journalist murders per million inhabitants

Last year: Ranked 4th with a rating of 0.431