A coalition of prominent media organisations has issued a strong collective condemnation of a defamatory and potentially violence-inciting campaign directed at Sandhya Eknaligoda, a prominent Sri Lankan activist and wife of missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. The campaign intensified following the return of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera to prison to serve his remaining sentence, prompting urgent calls from press freedom advocates and civil society groups for immediate action to protect Ms. Eknaligoda's personal safety and dignity.
The Nature of the Campaign Against Sandhya Eknaligoda
The hate campaign targeting Sandhya Eknaligoda has drawn widespread alarm from media watchdogs and human rights defenders across the region. Characterised by defamatory content, coordinated online harassment, and rhetoric that many observers describe as deliberately designed to incite hostility, the campaign represents a deeply troubling escalation in the targeting of a woman who has already endured years of personal suffering and institutional indifference.
Ms. Eknaligoda has spent over a decade fighting for justice following the enforced disappearance of her husband, journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda, who went missing in January 2010 ahead of Sri Lanka's presidential election. Her relentless advocacy for accountability has made her a symbol of resilience for families of the disappeared across South Asia. The current campaign appears specifically designed to intimidate and silence her at a critical moment in ongoing legal proceedings.
Media Organisations Unite in Condemnation
The undersigned media organisations expressed deep concern that the hate campaign not only endangers Ms. Eknaligoda's personal safety but also contributes to a broader climate of hatred and intolerance that threatens press freedom and civil liberties in Sri Lanka. In their joint statement, the organisations called on Sri Lankan authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to investigate the sources of the campaign and ensure that those responsible are held accountable under existing laws.
The statement further emphasised that attacks on individuals who seek justice for crimes against journalists represent an attack on the entire ecosystem of free expression. When advocates and family members of missing journalists are subjected to coordinated intimidation campaigns, the chilling effect extends far beyond any single individual, discouraging others from coming forward and undermining the broader pursuit of accountability.
The Connection to Gnanasara Thera's Imprisonment
The timing of the hate campaign is directly linked to the return of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera to prison. The Buddhist monk, who leads the Bodu Bala Sena organisation, was ordered to return to custody to serve the remainder of a sentence related to contempt of court charges connected to the Eknaligoda case. His return to prison appears to have triggered a wave of online hostility directed at Ms. Eknaligoda from certain quarters, with critics accusing her of being responsible for his incarceration.
Media freedom advocates have noted that this pattern of blaming victims and their advocates for legal consequences faced by powerful figures is a well-documented tactic used to suppress legitimate activism. The organisations signing the condemnation statement stressed that Ms. Eknaligoda has done nothing more than pursue lawful channels to seek truth and justice for her disappeared husband, and that she deserves protection rather than persecution.
Broader Implications for Press Freedom in Sri Lanka
The campaign against Sandhya Eknaligoda does not exist in isolation. Sri Lanka has long struggled with issues of press freedom, journalist safety, and accountability for crimes committed against media workers. The country ranks poorly on global press freedom indices, and cases of enforced disappearances of journalists from the conflict era remain largely unresolved, with families continuing to seek answers from successive governments.
The media organisations behind the condemnation statement underscored that a healthy democracy requires not only the protection of active journalists but also the protection of those who advocate on behalf of journalists who have been silenced. Intimidating the families of disappeared journalists sends a message that seeking justice carries a personal cost, a message that fundamentally undermines the rule of law.
Calls for Immediate Action
The joint statement concluded with a series of clear demands directed at Sri Lankan authorities and relevant institutions. The signatory organisations called for a thorough investigation into the origins and coordination of the hate campaign, the implementation of protective measures for Ms. Eknaligoda, and the prosecution of individuals found to have engaged in defamation or incitement to violence. They also urged social media platforms to act swiftly in removing content that violates community standards and local laws regarding hate speech and harassment.
As pressure mounts from the international media community, the situation facing Sandhya Eknaligoda serves as a stark reminder that the fight for justice in Sri Lanka remains far from over. The solidarity expressed by global media organisations represents an important signal that the international community is watching closely and will continue to advocate for accountability, protection, and truth.