Vigil for Missing Journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.

Its been a month since Cartoonist/freelance journalist and political analyst went missing and today Prageeth Eknaligoda is missed by his family. This evening a small crowd gathered for a candlelit vigil at Alexandra Place in Colombo. "Where is Prageeth"? was the question asked while the "Right to Write" was being questioned amongst others. In the recent past, many such abductions have taken place. At a crucial time like this and as a nation is looking to go forward after a 30 year Civil war, the lack for freedom of speech is being questioned.

Recently, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his Independence Day speech stated that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern.

Will there be change? As the country works toward a free nation and puts an end to its decade long war with the LTTE, the media seems to be under steady attack and no one seems to have the freedom to voice their opinions.  This is a perfect time to address the attacks on journalists that coincided with Sri Lanka’s long war.