The attack on the Uthayan Daily Press Office in Jaffna was part of the ongoing suppression of media in this island. During the post-CFA period scores of journalists were killed, imprisoned and threatened. So much so, international organizations like “Reporters Without Borders” have listed Sri Lanka as one of the worst countries for media freedom and safety of the journalists. The attack of the Uthayan press office was one of the most spectacular attacks on the media.
On 2 May 2006, the Uthayan press office was busy with its routine work for
the next day issue of the daily. Around 7.30pm,
armed Sri Lankan military and EPDP men entered the
press office and opened fire on the employees. Two
of the employees were killed and many were injured.
The gunmen deliberately smashed the computers and
other equipment at the press office.
Although the entire Tamil community knew who
carried out the attack, and the media organizations
condemned the attack, the perpetrators were unperturbed and continued
their attacks on the media.
Names of victims (name, age)
1. Bastian George Sagayathas (Suresh), 37
2. Rajaratnam Ranjith, 25