Sri Lanka Blocks Two More Tamil Websites

Sri Lanka is tightening avenues of free speech of Tamils as Resolution for War Crimes at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council nears.

(COLOMBO, Sri Lanka) - The Sri Lankan Government has blocked two more Tamil Websites, signaling a crackdown on media freedom in that island.

The two blocked websites are: http://www.puthinappalakai.com/ and http://seithy.com/

Several Tamil websites have already been blocked and there are several incidents of physical attacks on Tamil journalists and Tamil media offices. During the conflict scores of Tamil journalists were killed and disappeared.

“The war has ended five years ago, but the attack on Tamil media points to continuing crackdown on media freedom and the Sri Lankan Government’s determination to intimidate and silence Tamils ahead of UN Human Rights Council Session” said Minister for Media of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), Mr. Sutharsan Sivagurunathan.

With the a Sri Lanka Resolution for War Crimes at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council Resolution in the horizon, Sri Lankan Government is tightening all avenues of free speech of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has been classified as a "country under surveillance" in the Reporters Without Borders report on “Enemies of the Internet”. Sri Lanka is also ranked 158th out of 178 countries in the Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom index.

Source: Media TGTE (Trans National Govt. of Tamil Eelam)