According to Country Reports 1992, members of the Democratic United National Front (DUNF) were singled out for harassment (1993, 1180). According to this source, in April 1992 the home of a DUNF organizer was attacked, causing extensive damage and injuring his wife (Ibid.). Later that month a DUNF rally had to be cancelled when police withdrew the group's loudspeaker permit, and several party members were assaulted when they attempted to address the crowd (Ibid.). In late August DUNF members were attacked by armed men (Ibid.).

According to The Sri Lanka Monitor, journalists covering the August 1992 campaign of the DUNF were attacked (August 1992, 4). The source further states that journalists covering anti-government rallies, particularly those of the DUNF, are harassed or attacked (Ibid.). In April, under emergency regulations, the DUNF newspaper was charged under emergency regulations with inciting hatred and contempt for the Sri Lankan government (Ibid.). Additionally, there have been politically motivated outbreaks of violence aimed at the DUNF splinter group (Ibid.). In late August, Lalith Athulathmudali, the leader of the DUNF, sustained minor injuries when gunmen fired at him while he was canvassing his electorate (Ibid.).

According to the latest reports, in January 1993 the DUNF organized a rally to protect human rights and support the struggle by the Free Media movement for freedom of the press (UPI 19 Jan. 1993). The source adds that a one-man committee was appointed to inquire into and report on an alleged police assault on journalists (Ibid.). A report released by Kyodo News Service states that the DUNF supported a major protest campaign against the government for its alleged harassment and beatings of journalists and editors (21 Feb. 1993).

Further information is available in the attached documents. Additional or corroborating information is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. U.S. Department of State. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Kyodo News Service. 21 February 1993. Rita Sebastian. "Sri Lanka Opposition Joins Fight Against Press Attacks." (NEXIS)

The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. August 1992. "A Free Press or a Fair Trial?"

The United Press International (UPI). 19 January 1993. BC Cycle. "One-man Committee to Investigate Alleged Police Attack on Journalists in Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. U.S. Department of State. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, pp. 1180-1181. Inter Press Service. 1 September 1992. "Sri Lanka: Supreme Court Rules in Favour of Premadasa." (NEXIS)

Kyodo News Service. 21 February 1993. Rita Sebastian. "Sri Lanka Opposition Joins Fight Against Press Attacks." (NEXIS)

The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. August 1992. "A Free Press or a Fair Trial?" p. 4.

Reuters. 29 August 1992. BC Cycle. Gang Attacks Sri Lankan Opposition Party Leader." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 19 January 1993. BC Cycle. "One-man Committee to Investigate Alleged Police Attack on Journalists in Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 7 August 1992. BC Cycle. "Journalists Attacked in Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)