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RSF: SL authorities must stop harassing photojournalist Kumanan Kanapathipillai
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Friday called on the Sri Lankan government to put a stop to its unacceptable harassment of Kanapathipillai Kumanan, a photojournalist covering human rights violations and abuses in northern Sri Lanka; he is being subjected to a new intimidation campaign orchestrated by the authorities.
The RSF has said in a media statement: “A freelancer whose photographs have been published in local and international media, including The Guardian, Groundviews and the Evening Standard, Kanapathipillai Kumanan is one of Sri Lanka’s most persecuted journalists.
“Since the end of Sri Lanka’s 25-year civil war in May 2009, he has covered sensitive issues affecting the Tamil population in the northeast of the country, such as the exhumations of mass graves in Chemmani (in the Jaffna Peninsula) in the summer of 2025, the enforced disappearance of Tamils, the military’s land grab in the northeast, environmental crimes and the fight for justice led by civil war victims.
“Clearly in reprisal for his work, which has drawn international attention to the persecution of the Tamil minority, a Sri Lankan government representative publicly claimed, during a session of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva on 26 September, to have “reliable information” linking him to “terrorist activities” and “financial crime.” He also alleged that Kanapathipillai Kumanan had “provoked protestors against government forces for personal gain.” These claims were obviously designed to discredit him.
“This is an extremely serious attack on a reporter who has already been targeted on many occasions for his work. The new baseless accusations against this prominent journalist illustrate the authorities’ repeated attempts to silence critical voices and criminalise independent journalism in Sri Lanka’s Tamil regions. We call on the authorities to immediately cease these acts of intimidation and to guarantee Kanapathipillai Kumanan’s safety. There is an urgent need to end these repeated attacks on press freedom in Sri Lanka,” said Célia Mercier, Head of the RSF South Asia Desk.
“A few weeks before the committee’s hearing, Kanapathipillai Kumanan was interrogated for seven hours on 17 August by the office of the Counter-Terrorism and Investigation Division (CTID) in Alampil, Northern Province, which described his journalism as “against the government” and “terrorist”. The CTID questioned him about his recent investigative reporting, social media posts, personal finances and travel abroad.
“The CTID told Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission – to which he filed a complaint after this interrogation – that its investigation was based on a complaint filed on 13 March 2023, by military intelligence accusing him of publishing “false information,” causing “disrepute to the military” stirring up “conflict between the military and the Tamil people,” and “creating discord” between communities. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health & Mass Media did not respond to RSF’s requests for comment.
“In October 2024, CTID officers went to his home in Mullaitivu in his absence and subjected his family to intimidation. The many cases of harassment to which he has been subjected in the course of his journalistic activities have included physical violence by law enforcement in 2019 and 2022. He was assaulted by illegal loggers in 2020, while in 2021 he was threatened and harassed by Forest Department officials, who prevented him from carrying out his work.”
Three Sri Lankan male passengers who arrived from Muscat by flight no. OV 437 on Saturday (24) have been arrested by officers attached to the NCU at BIA as they were found to be carrying 12,306 grams of Cannabis class narcotics (suspected as Hashish & Kush) valued at 123 million rupees.
Building on its success in seizing major narcotic stocks in 2025, the Navy continued to support the “A Nation United” National Mission in 2026. In continuation of these efforts, during an
operation conducted on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended eleven (11) suspects aboard two local multi-day fishing trawlers suspected of drug smuggling.
Based on shared information, by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, this special operation was conducted off the southern coast, deploying the Navy‟s Offshore Patrol Vessels. The operation
resulted in the interception of a multi-day fishing trawler suspected of smuggling narcotics, and the apprehension of five (05) suspects on board.
During further operations in the same area, naval units seized another multi-day fishing trawler (01), along with communication equipment and six (06) additional suspects, also believed to be involved in drug smuggling.
This morning (25 Jan 26), the two intercepted fishing trawlers, along with fourteen (14) sacks laden with suspected narcotics and the suspects, were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour.
An expert examination by the Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed that the fourteen (14) sacks contained more than 184 kilograms of heroin and over 112 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine).
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, inspected the narcotics at the Dikovita harbour.
The Deputy Minister of Defence said that the current administration has initiated several projects for national development. As a flagship initiative, under the directives and guidance of the President, and under the supervision of the
Ministry of Defence, well-coordinated anti-narcotic raids have been launched.
This effort, part of “A Nation United” National Mission, involves the tri-forces, police, and all intelligence agencies working together under a coordinated plan to ensure that drug smugglers have no opportunity to bring narcotics into the country, he opined. He further stated that despite the national disaster situation, the state machinery, including the tri-forces, the police, and the public at large, remains united in rebuilding the nation, no room will be left for drug trafficking, which poses a severe threat to national security and public safety. Those
who engage in or support drug trafficking, under the cover of fishing activities, will find no escape, he added.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed that the tri-forces, police, and all law enforcement agencies are fully committed to their duty of suppressing this menace.
The Deputy Minister of Defence reported that, throughout 2025, a series of highly successful operations were conducted leading to numerous arrests. This was achieved through close coordination and mutual cooperation among the tri-services, the police, the Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Bureau, local law enforcement and international agencies. He noted that this
same spirit of cooperation and commitment has continued into 2026, resulting in the seizure of a large stockpile of drugs.
On behalf of the Honourable President, he extended gratitude to all who contributed to these efforts, specifically acknowledging the Commander of the Navy, the Inspector General of Police, the Police Narcotic Bureau, and the crews of the Navy’s Offshore
Patrol Vessels.
Moreover, the Deputy Minister declared that drug smuggling has become a national crisis, fueled by youth involvement and social crime. With borders secured under the “Nation United” National Mission, he warned traffickers to cease operations and urged users to abandon the destructive habit.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to report suspected drug smugglers to law enforcement via the hotlines 1818 or 1997 and also commended the role of media institutions and journalists in raising public awareness about the dangers of narcotics through responsible reporting.
Meanwhile, the two (02) multi-day fishing trawlers, along with a haul of narcotics, eleven (11) suspects, and communication equipment, were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for
further investigation and legal proceedings.
The Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’, which arrived in Sri Lanka for logistics replenishment and a goodwill mission, departed the island on 23 Jan 26.
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the stay in Sri Lanka, crew members of the ship visited some popular tourist destinations within the city of Colomb
Three arrested with narcotics valued at Rs123 million at BIA
Navy intercepts 02 narcotics-laden trawlers with 11 suspects in southern seas
Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’ departs island
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