Tamil Journalist Brutally Beaten By Sri Lankan Army Personnel  

29-11-2021 

Judit Kolbe 

Sri Lanka and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defence.

On the 27th of November 2021, the independent Tamil journalist Viswalingham Viswachandran was brutally assaulted and beaten allegedly by three military personnel in Mullaitivu, northern Sri Lanka (Fonseka, B., 2021). According to media reports, Viswachandran was attacked when he took a photograph of the Mullivaikkala name plate, when security forces beat him with Palmyra branches wrapped in barbed wire, resulting in severe injuries for which he was hospitalised (Fonseka, B., 2021; LankaNewsWeb, 2021). Reportedly, the Mullaitivu Police has already launched an investigation into the incident (LankaNewsWeb, 2021). Three military personnel were arrested for the brutal assault and torture of Viswachandran, however, they have already been released on bail, according to Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) (Fonseka, B., 2021). 

On the 28th of November 2021, the Mullaitivu Press Club published a statement, condemning the brutal attack on Viswachandran (Tamil Guardian, 2021). They denounced the incident as yet another violation of the freedom of press and human rights of journalists in Sri Lanka and added that journalists in the "North and East are subjected to serious challenges amidst severe threats to their lives and profession" (Tamil Guardian, 2021). Furthermore, they criticised the culture of impunity in Sri Lanka concerning violence and harassment of journalists and the lack of accountability for 44 forcibly disappeared Tamil journalists (Tamil Guardian, 2021).

Sources and further reading: 

Fonseka, B. (2021, November 28). Mullaitivu Press Club condemns alleged attack on Tamil journalist. The Morning. https://www.themorning.lk/mullaitivu-press-club-condemns-alleged-attack-on-tamil-journalist/

LankaNewsWeb (2021, November 28). A Tamil Journalist from Mulativu hospitalized after being assaulted by the SL Army Personnel. LankaNewsWeb. https://www.lankanewsweb.net/67-general-news/98067-A-Tamil-Journalist-from-Mulativu-hospitalised-after-being-assaulted-by-the-SL-Army-Personnel 

Tamil Guardian (2021, November 28). Mullaitivu Press Club condemn brutal assault and torture of Tamil journalist. Tamil Guardian. https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/mullaitivu-press-club-condemn-brutal-assault-and-torture-tamil-journalist