Tamils in Jaffna marked 'Black January' with a protest calling on Sri Lanka to protect media freedom across the island.
Protesters held placards that read "stop media harrassment" and photographs of journalists that have been killed or forcibly disappeared by the state, as they rallied through the town.
Media workers, particularly journalists from the North-East, are subject to routine harassment, surveillance and interrogations by the state's security forces. Tamil journalists face repercussions for reporting on issues such as land grabs and Sinhalisation in the North-East.
Tamil journalists mark this month as 'Black January' to remember the journslists that have been killed or forcibly disappeared and reaffirm their commitment to seeking justice.
The protest comes just days after Sri Lanka passed the Online Safety Bill amidst concerns from the international community.
The proposed bill, touted as one that will regulate online content, has sparked criticism from activists, international organisations including the UN human rights office, and opposition politicians, who state the government is trying to crackdown on dissent and stifle freedom of speech.
