A coalition of civil society organisations have urged Sri Lanka's Counter Terrorism Investigation Department (CTID) to end their harassment and withdraw a summons against Tamil journalist and photographer Kanapathipillai Kumanan.
In a statement, the Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development, the Committee to Protect Journalists, CIVICUS, Front Line Defenders, Free Press Unlimited, International Commission of Jurists, International Press Institute and Reporters Without Borders, said the summons are a reprisal for Kumanan's work.
Kumanan has played a significant role in documenting and reporting on issues such as landgrabs, protests by the Tamil families of the disappeared and various other human rights issues in the North-East.
The organisations note that the "summons is part of a broader pattern of intimidation" against Kumanan and other human rights defenders who work to highlight ongoing human rights abuses.
"The use of the CTID and other counter-terror mechanisms to target a Tamil journalist is not new - but it remains deeply concerning," the statement added.
The groups have also called on the international community at the United Nations Human Rights Council to renew the UN High Commissioner's monitoring and reporting mandate on Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka's Accountability Project at the 60th session in September 2025.
