Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reportedly sought information from social media platform X concerning the account of journalist Sulochana Ramiah Mohan, Deputy Editor at Ceylon Today, following her reporting on the country’s ongoing energy crisis.
In a statement issued on 18 April, the Free Media Movement (FMM) said the inquiry relates to an article published in Ceylon Today and subsequently shared via Ramiah Mohan’s X account. The platform has reportedly notified the journalist that Sri Lankan authorities flagged the content as potentially violating domestic law.
The FMM said it had reviewed the article in question and found no evidence of illegality, raising concerns over what it described as unwarranted interference in press freedom. It further noted that authorities have not clearly outlined the legal basis for seeking information or for any potential request to remove or restrict the content.
The development echoes previous attempts by Sri Lankan authorities to pressure social media platforms over journalistic content. In December 2020, Twitter informed editors at Tamil Guardian that the CID had formally requested the removal of posts, claiming they “violate the law(s) of Sri Lanka” and flagging specific tweets for action. While those posts were not ultimately removed, the incident underscored concerns that the Sri Lankan state was increasingly seeking to extend its reach beyond domestic media, targeting diaspora outlets and online platforms.
