Sri Lankan intelligence officers are to launch an investigation into the Uthayan, alleging that the newspaper had celebrated LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's birthday, reports BBC Sinhala.
The investigation was launched after the Jaffna based daily published an article which included a photograph of a billboard in India, which featured Prabhakaran's image and the words: "60th birthday of the leader of the Tamils. The auspicious day the god of our nation was incarnated.”
Also appearing on the billboard were images of Argentine guerilla leader Che Guevara and Indian social reformer B R Ambedkar.
The Jaffna-based newspaper has faced constant threats from the Sri Lankan security forces, with journalists and staff members frequently assaulted and assassinated. Uthayan offices in the North-East of the island have also come under attack and been vandalised several times.
Last year, the newspaper was awarded the Reporters Without Borders “2013 Press Freedom Prize”.
British Prime Minister David Cameron also visited the Uthayan offices in 2013, telling staff that he was “proud to meet the brave journalists risking their lives”, and that the visit “is going to make a very lasting impression.”
See our earlier posts:
'They have the guns, we have only pens' - Uthayan journalist (01 October 2014)
Uthayan marks 8 years since deadly attack (05 May 2014)
Uthayan journalist attacked (22 December 2013)
British Premier's historic Jaffna visit raises Tamil hopes (15 November 2013)
Uthayan newspaper wins Press Freedom Prize (29 November 2013)
Uthayan reporter attacked (10 July 2013)
US - attacks on Uthayan and other media need 'thorough investigation' (01 May 2013)
Tamil newspaper office attacked, Govt alleges insider job (13 April 2013)
Tamil newspaper office attacked in Kilinochchi (03 April 2013)
Uthayan editor interrogated by CID (21 July 2012)
Assaulted Uthayan editor remains defiant (19 August 2011)
Wholesale attack on Tamil newspapers, Journalist kidnapped (08 July 2009)
Uthayan ‘worst hit’ of Sri Lanka’s media - RSF (20 September 2006)
Jaffna protests Uthayan killings (17 May 2006)
The investigation was launched after the Jaffna based daily published an article which included a photograph of a billboard in India, which featured Prabhakaran's image and the words: "60th birthday of the leader of the Tamils. The auspicious day the god of our nation was incarnated.”
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Also appearing on the billboard were images of Argentine guerilla leader Che Guevara and Indian social reformer B R Ambedkar.
The Jaffna-based newspaper has faced constant threats from the Sri Lankan security forces, with journalists and staff members frequently assaulted and assassinated. Uthayan offices in the North-East of the island have also come under attack and been vandalised several times.
Last year, the newspaper was awarded the Reporters Without Borders “2013 Press Freedom Prize”.
British Prime Minister David Cameron also visited the Uthayan offices in 2013, telling staff that he was “proud to meet the brave journalists risking their lives”, and that the visit “is going to make a very lasting impression.”
See our earlier posts:
'They have the guns, we have only pens' - Uthayan journalist (01 October 2014)
Uthayan marks 8 years since deadly attack (05 May 2014)
Uthayan journalist attacked (22 December 2013)
British Premier's historic Jaffna visit raises Tamil hopes (15 November 2013)
Uthayan newspaper wins Press Freedom Prize (29 November 2013)
Uthayan reporter attacked (10 July 2013)
US - attacks on Uthayan and other media need 'thorough investigation' (01 May 2013)
Tamil newspaper office attacked, Govt alleges insider job (13 April 2013)
Tamil newspaper office attacked in Kilinochchi (03 April 2013)
Uthayan editor interrogated by CID (21 July 2012)
Assaulted Uthayan editor remains defiant (19 August 2011)
Wholesale attack on Tamil newspapers, Journalist kidnapped (08 July 2009)
Uthayan ‘worst hit’ of Sri Lanka’s media - RSF (20 September 2006)
Jaffna protests Uthayan killings (17 May 2006)