The IPI global network today joined seven media freedom and international human rights groups in expressing our concern over Sri Lankan authorities’ harassment of Tamil photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan.聽
Read the full statement below.
Sri Lankan authorities must immediately end the harassment of Tamil journalist and withdraw the issued by the Counter Terrorism Investigation Department (CTID) of Sri Lanka Police, eight international human rights and media rights groups said today.
Based in Sri Lanka鈥檚 Northern Province, is a , president of the Mullaitivu Press Club, and human rights defender, who documents violations against Tamil civilians by security forces in the heavily militarised north and east of the country. He has been served a by the CTID to appear for an inquiry on 17 August 2025. The does not state the reason for the inquiry, although he was informed by telephone that it was in connection with his social media posts. It is believed the summons are a reprisal for Kumanan鈥檚 reporting 鈥� primarily on human rights issues and, most recently, the in Chemmani, Northern Province. Kumanan has posted updates and on documenting of , during which he reported that more than 140 skeletal remains were either exhumed or unearthed. His photographs have been widely shared and published by and outlets.
Since the bloody end of the armed conflict in May 2009, Kumanan has played a key role in reporting on issues such as enforced disappearances, military land acquisition, environmental crimes, and the campaigns of survivor communities demanding truth, justice, and redress for wartime violations and abuses.
The summons is part of a broader pattern of intimidation against , his family, and human rights defenders who expose human rights violations, abuses and war crimes in Sri Lanka. Kumanan has previously faced , including threats against his family in 2024 aimed at silencing his work.
The use of the CTID and other counter-terror mechanisms to target a Tamil journalist is not new 鈥� but it remains deeply concerning. Under successive governments, Sri Lankan authorities have abused the regressive Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the counter-terror police to punish journalists and human rights defenders who document and report on rights violations and abuses and deter them from carrying out their work. Tamil and Muslim human rights defenders 鈥� particularly in the country鈥檚 north and east 鈥� have been especially affected by such reprisals.
We call on Sri Lankan authorities, including the Minister of Public Security, the Police Chief, and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that all journalists and human rights defenders in Sri Lanka can work in a safe, enabling environment, free from intimidation and retaliation.
We urge the international community, including the concerned United Nations human rights mechanisms and member states, to closely monitor all ongoing violations and reprisals in Sri Lanka, especially the continued misuse of counter-terrorism legislation to suppress those speaking out on war-related crimes. To ensure such vigilance, we call on the UN Human Rights Council to renew the OHCHR鈥檚 monitoring and reporting mandate on Sri Lanka, as well as the OHCHR鈥檚 Sri Lanka Accountability Project, when the Council reviews Sri Lanka鈥檚 human rights record 鈥� particularly on accountability and justice 鈥� at its upcoming 60th session.
Sincerely,
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Front Line Defenders (FLD)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)