Tamil journalist and professional photographer Kanapathipillai Kumanan revealed details of an ongoing inquiry by Sri Lanka’s Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division (CTID), which accuses him of spreading information that “discredits the military” and “creates conflict” between security forces and Tamils.
Kumanan, who has worked extensively with conflict-affected Tamils in the North-East, said he was summoned on 7 August by the CTID’s Alampil – Mullaitivu Sub Office for interrogation over his social media activities. The summons, issued in Sinhala, prompted him to lodge a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna Regional Office seeking clarification.
According to Kumanan, the CTID later sent a written explanation to the HRC stating that the investigation was based on “intelligence information” forwarded by Sri Lankan Military intelligence on 13 March 2023. The CTID Mullaitivu Unit has since been investigating his work documenting protests, commemorations, and incidents across the North-East, as well as his dissemination of that material via social media.
The CTID’s letter alleged that Kumanan’s reporting was “disrespectful to the military” and risked “creating conflict between the military and the Tamil people.”
It further claimed that, according to Military Intelligence, he:
• Works closely with Tamil communities in the North-East, photographing protests and commemorations “to draw international attention.”
• Releases such material, which they allege includes “false information” and “fabricated photographs,” on social media.
• Attempts to “create conflict” with security forces during public events, recording incidents and sharing them with the Tamil diaspora “to portray the military as harassing Tamils.”
• Misrepresents land disputes involving army camps and Buddhist shrines “to create discord between ethnic and religious communities.”
• Promotes the view that LTTE members killed during the war were “innocent Tamils” who should be commemorated, and that they were killed by government forces “with the aim of influencing the international community.”
Kumanan has previously faced intimidation over his reporting on land grabs, militarisation, and state repression in the North-East.
Press freedom advocates have condemned such actions as part of a broader campaign of harassment against Tamil journalists under the guise of “counter-terrorism” measures.
