Eravur Circuit Magistrate Court has issued an arrest warrant for Tamil journalist Sasikaran Punniyamoorthy for not attending court after he was forced into exile due to intimidation by Sri Lanka's security forces.
A case was filed by Eravur police against Tamils who were protesting the land grabs by Sinhala settlers in Madhavanai and Mayilathamadu on October 8, 2023. The protesters were marching towards Chenkaldy Central College, where the former Sri Lankan president Ranil Wickremesinghe was attending an event, but they were brutally assaulted by the police.
Batticaloa based journalists Punniyamoorthy and V Krishnakumar who attended and covered the demonstration.
In their coverage of the protest, the journalists highlighted that the police officers attacked the peaceful protesters. One video by Punniyamoorthy showed Sri Lankan police officers attacking the leader of the Amparai families of the disappeared association.
Punniyamoorthy was later subjected to questioning and harassment by Sri Lankan police over his coverage of the protest.
The case was taken up at Eravur Circuit Magistrate Court on January 22, where an arrest warrant was issued and his details were ordered to be sent to Sri Lanka's immigration department. The judge also announced that the case would be adjourned until April 21st.
Punniyamoorthy was the treasurer of Batticaloa Press Club and actively reported on human rights and environmental issues in the East.