The long-running legal battle surrounding the disappearance of Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda has taken another step forward, with the Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar fixing June 26 as the next hearing date for the continuation of the trial. The case, which has drawn significant national and international attention over the years, involves nine Army intelligence officers accused of the alleged abduction and enforced disappearance of the journalist, along with a series of related charges that have kept Sri Lanka's justice system under scrutiny for over a decade.
Trial Details and Accused Officers
The case was taken up before the three-member Trial-at-Bar bench, which is a specially constituted court designed to handle complex and high-profile criminal matters in Sri Lanka. Among the nine Army intelligence officers facing trial is former Girithale Army Camp Commanding Officer Shammi Kumararatne, whose alleged role in the disappearance has been a focal point of the prosecution's case. The charges have been filed by the Attorney General, underscoring the gravity and seriousness with which the state has approached this matter.
The Trial-at-Bar format itself is significant. Unlike standard court proceedings, a Trial-at-Bar consists of three judges sitting together, a mechanism typically reserved for cases of exceptional public importance or legal complexity. The use of this structure in the Eknaligoda case reflects the weight the judiciary places on resolving what has become one of Sri Lanka's most prominent enforced disappearance cases in recent memory.
Who Is Prageeth Eknaligoda?
Prageeth Eknaligoda was a Sri Lankan journalist, political cartoonist, and activist who disappeared on January 24, 2010 — just two days before the Sri Lankan presidential election in which incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa faced opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka. Eknaligoda was known for his critical stance toward the government and his outspoken views on political matters, making him a controversial figure in the charged political climate of the time.
His disappearance sparked widespread concern among press freedom organizations, human rights groups, and foreign governments. His wife, Sandhya Eknaligoda, became one of Sri Lanka's most recognized advocates for justice, tirelessly campaigning for answers about her husband's fate and pushing authorities to hold those responsible accountable. Her efforts brought international visibility to the case and helped keep pressure on successive Sri Lankan governments to pursue justice.
A Decade-Long Pursuit of Justice
The road to the current trial has been anything but straightforward. The investigation into Eknaligoda's disappearance stalled for years, with allegations that authorities under the Rajapaksa administration were unwilling to pursue the case aggressively. It was only after the change of government in January 2015, following the election of President Maithripala Sirisena, that the investigation gained new momentum.
Arrests of Army intelligence personnel were made in 2015, and the case was eventually handed to the Attorney General's department, which filed charges against the accused officers. However, legal proceedings have moved slowly, with multiple adjournments, procedural delays, and legal challenges along the way. The fixing of June 26 as the next hearing date represents yet another incremental step in a case that has tested the patience of justice advocates and press freedom campaigners both within Sri Lanka and internationally.
Significance for Press Freedom and Human Rights
The Eknaligoda case carries enormous symbolic and practical importance for press freedom in Sri Lanka. Journalists, media organizations, and human rights bodies have consistently pointed to this case as a litmus test for whether Sri Lanka is genuinely committed to accountability for crimes against journalists and the protection of freedom of expression.
Organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists have repeatedly highlighted the case in their global reports on journalist safety and impunity. A fair and timely resolution would send a powerful message that Sri Lanka's justice system can deliver accountability even in cases involving military personnel and allegations of state-sponsored abductions.
Furthermore, the case touches on broader issues of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka, a country that witnessed thousands of such cases during its decades-long civil war and its aftermath. Accountability in the Eknaligoda matter could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled going forward.
What Comes Next
With June 26 now confirmed as the next hearing date, all eyes will be on the Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar to see how proceedings advance. Legal observers will be watching closely to assess whether the trial maintains its momentum or faces further delays. For Sandhya Eknaligoda and the many supporters who have stood by her side throughout this ordeal, each hearing date represents both a renewed hope and a reminder of how long the search for truth and justice can take.
The continuation of this trial remains a critical moment for Sri Lanka's democratic institutions, its commitment to human rights, and its international reputation as a country working toward genuine reconciliation and accountability in the post-war era.