Internet Media Action (IMA) yesterday expressed profound concern over the arrest of veteran journalist Sandaruwan Senadheera, editor of the Lanka E News, at Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday (11) as he returned to the country from the UK after 16 years. A statement signed by IMA representative Sampath Samarakoon said Senadheera had fled Sri Lanka during the administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa after receiving death threats amid a climate of intimidation against journalists. The organisation noted that his departure also followed the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda and an arson attack on the Lanka e News office in the early hours of January 30, 2011.

According to IMA, Senadheera had since continued his journalistic work from overseas through the Lanka e News website while advocating democratic governance in Sri Lanka. The group added that he had also extended ideological support to the political movement NPP during its rise to power.

IMA said Senadheera was reportedly arrested as a suspect in connection with a legal case filed under a previous administration. However, the organisation said the arrest had raised fresh concerns within the media community about the possible re-emergence of political witch-hunts and suppression of journalists reminiscent of earlier periods.

“The present government has a responsibility to dispel these concerns,” the statement said.

The organisation urged the authorities to ensure Senadheera’s personal safety while in custody and to guarantee that any legal proceedings against him are conducted transparently and free of political vendetta.

IMA also called on the government to uphold its commitments to protect the professional safety of journalists and safeguard freedom of expression.

“Actions of this nature, which evoke the dark era of journalist persecution, constitute a threat to democracy,” the statement said, urging authorities to intervene to ensure justice in the matter.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a five-year project titled ‘Sow and Grow’ with funding support of USD 10 million from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, to strengthen the country’s Thriposha nutrition programme.

The initiative aims to boost the production of high-quality locally grown maize and ensure a steady supply of Thriposha, a fortified supplementary food provided to children under five as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Under the project, about 7,500 farmers in the districts of Anuradhapura, Monaragala and Badulla will receive support to improve productivity through climate-smart farming practices while reducing post-harvest losses. The programme will also link farmers with aggregators and Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited to strengthen supply chains and enhance market access.

The ‘Sow and Grow’ project is expected to improve nutrition for more than 650,000 children under the age of five and over 330,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women across the country.

KOICA Sri Lanka Country Director Lee Yoo Li said the agency was proud to support the initiative, which would strengthen the maize value chain while contributing to the long-standing Thriposha programme that safeguards the nutrition of Sri Lankan mothers and children.

WFP Sri Lanka Representative and Country Director Philip Ward said maize farmers and processors were facing growing challenges ranging from climate shocks to market constraints, making the project particularly timely.

The programme will be implemented by WFP in collaboration with several Sri Lankan ministries, including those responsible for rural development, agriculture, health, trade and finance, with the broader aim of strengthening food systems and supporting sustainable rural livelihoods.

All Ambassador-designates who met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on January 22 have received clearance from the Parliamentary Committee on High Posts, enabling them to assume their respective diplomatic postings, President’s Media Division (PMD) announced yesterday.

The appointments include Dharshana M. Perera as High Commissioner-designate to Malaysia, D.M.S.P. Dassanayake as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva (already departed), Dayani Mendis as Ambassador and Permanent Representative-designate to Austria, S.P.W. Pathirana as Ambassador-designate to Romania (already departed), N.I.D. Paranavitana as Ambassador and Permanent Representative-designate to Ethiopia and the African Union, S. K. Chandrasiri as Ambassador-designate to Israel, Dhammika Fernando as High Commissioner designate to Kenya, Anura Withanage as Ambassador-designate to Lebanon, Prof. M.I. Fazeeha Azmi as Ambassador-designate to Iran, and M. Farook M. Fawzer as Representative-designate to Palestine.