Media Release – The Internet Media Action (IMA)

| August 14, 2025
The Internet Media Action (IMA) urges the government to immediately suspend the summons
issued by the Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division (CTID) to photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan to ensure that journalists are able to work freely.

A police notice has revealed that the CTID has issued a summons to photojournalist
Kanapathipillai Kumanan to appear for an investigation.” According to this notice, he has been
informed to be present at the Counter Terrorism sub-office in Alampil, Mullaitivu, on August 17
to provide a statement. However, without providing any details or further information about this
summons, this action appears arbitrary and coercive. The Internet Media Action (IMA)
recognizes this as a form of harassment against a journalist.

The IMA strongly emphasises to the government that this summons should be immediately
withdrawn and that the harassment faced by Kumanan must be stopped. Furthermore, the
government must ensure a free and safe environment for journalists to carry out their
professional duties without intimidation, obstruction, or influence.

The misuse of police powers by employing a notorious institution like the Counter Terrorism
Unit is recognised by us as a serious threat to media freedom. Kumanan, an ethnic Tamil, is a
leading photojournalist who has been providing updates and photographs to the media on the
Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna, where more than 140 human skeletons were discovered,
fulfilling an important responsibility of reporting this significant event.

He has also been reporting on peaceful public protests in the Northern Province calling for truth
and justice for the disappeared, peaceful actions to reclaim land belonging to Tamil people, and
activities to safeguard human rights in the post-war North. His role as a journalist in these
activities deserves the highest recognition. In such a context, targeting such a journalist through
the Counter Terrorism Unit and acting in a harassing manner is a grave situation.

Therefore, the IMA urges the government of the National People’s Power (NPP) to
immediately halt these actions and to take swift measures to create an environment where all
journalists, including Tamil journalists, can carry out their professional work without
intimidation, interference or threats.

Freedom of the media is a cornerstone of democracy. Protecting and upholding it is a primary
duty of the government. Therefore, we stress to the government that it is their foremost
responsibility to rectify this situation immediately and to create an environment where journalists
can work without any hindrance.

Sampath Samarakoon
(Convenor) Internet Media Action (IMA) | +94 777 248304