Prageeth Eknaligoda

Prageeth Ranjan Eknaligoda
Occupation Political Writer, Cartoonist Journalist
Nationality Sri Lankan
Notable works Cave Arts of 21st Century

Prageeth Eknaligoda is a cartoonist, political analyst and journalist. He was reported missing on January 24, 2010 - two days before the presidential polls in Sri Lanka.[1][2] He actively participated in the presidential campaign of common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka while working as a freelance journalist for a pro-opposition website Lankaenews.com.[3][4] Members of his family believe he has been abducted by pro-government supporters, a charge that was denied by the government of Sri Lanka.[2] In 2009 Amnesty International released information regarding circumstances of his disappearance.[5] Reporters without borders has issued a statement concerning him.[1] The investigation is being led by the Colombo Crimes Division.[6]

Disappearance

Eknaligoda left his office on 24 January 2010 evening saying that he has to meet an old friend. He has not been seen since that.[7]

Government response

Eknaligoda's family, and several activiset groups have accused the Sri Lanka government of being directly responsible for his disappearance. At a meeting of United Nations Convention Against Torture in Geneva, Sri Lanka's then Attorney General (Now Chief Justice) Mohan Peiris dismissed the charges against government and said that Eknaligoda has sought asylum abroad.[7] But when questioned in the court later, he told that he does not remember who the source of his information was and that “only god knows” the whereabouts of Eknaligoda.[8]

Reappearence allegations

On June 5, 2013 a government Member of the parliament claimed that Eknaligoda was living in France.[9] But several Sri Lankan journalists in exile in France, including Manjula Wediwardana, whom that Member of parliament alleged to have taken him to meet Prageeth, vehemently denied the claims that Prageeth is living in hiding in France. French embassy in Colombo too denied any claims that Prageeth is living in France.[10][11]

Free Media Movement (FMM) Convener Sunil Jayasekara in a statement on the MPs allegations told[10]

“We think the MP is using Parliamentary privileges and trying to mislead the people. He is claiming that a journalist had introduced Mr. Ekneligoda to him when he visited France in January this year. However the journalist Manjula Wediwardana has sent an e-mail to us saying he never met the MP in France or introduced any Mr. Ekneligoda to him,”.

2015 probe

In March 2015 the government launched a probe of the disappearance of Eknaligoda,[12] but his wife expressed dissatisfaction over the government's actions.[13] In January 2016 Bodu Bala Sena leader was arrested after he disrupted court proceedings on Eknaligoda disappearance [14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Cartoonist kidnapped two months ago still missing". Reporters Sans Frontières. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  2. 1 2 Bangkok Post, February 25, 2010. p.5
  3. ↑ "Journalist "verschwunden" | Amnesty International Deutschland". Amnesty.de. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  4. ↑ Agence France-Presse / Bangkok Post, 25 February 2010. s.5
  5. ↑ http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa02410.pdf
  6. ↑ Dias, Supun (25 March 2010). "Eknaligoda disappearance: CCD takes over". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  7. 1 2 Appeal Court ruling on former AG
  8. ↑ Still seeking justice from judiciary - Sandya Ekneligoda
  9. ↑ http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/30452-mp-claims-missing-journo-residing-in-france.
  10. 1 2 France says no evidence at all of Ekneligoda living there
  11. ↑ wife surprised over claims
  12. ↑ http://lankaherald.com/2015/03/19/fresh-probe-on-eknaligoda/
  13. ↑ http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?224KY5nd204omBnd4e2oeOldeca0CgA4edd0A4MCe2aca7lOc3e4bZBmA3303cP5YOc3./
  14. ↑ "Magistrate files contempt of Court action against Ven. Gnanasara Thera | Daily News". www.dailynews.lk. Retrieved 2016-04-27.


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