Sri Lanka’s Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division (CTID) has summoned leading Tamil journalist and rights defender Kanapathipillai Kumanan to appear for an “inquiry” at its occupying Alampil sub-station in Mullaitivu on 17 August.
The summons marks yet another instance of state intimidation directed at the veteran reporter, who has been repeatedly targeted by the Sri Lankan security forces for his coverage of military land grabs, protests, disappearances, and environmental destruction in the North-East.
Kumanan has faced years of harassment and surveillance. He has been summoned and questioned multiple times by Sri Lankan police, physically assaulted while covering protests, and blocked from reporting by Sri Lankan navy and forest officials.
The pattern of harassment includes:
In May 2019, he was assaulted by the police officer in charge of the Kokkilai police station in Mullaitivu after he went to Neeraviyadi Pillaiyar temple to report on the lack of progress in fulfilling a court order to remove CCTV cameras.
In October 2020, he was attacked alongside another reporter by timber smugglers while investigating illegal logging. Kumanan sustained head and nose injuries.
In February 2021, he was threatened by Sri Lankan Forest Department officials, as he went to report on a Tamil landowner dispute in Thannimurippu, Mullaitivu.
In June 2022, Kumanan was physically blockaded and threatened while covering a protest against forced land acquisition by the Navy in Vattuvakkal. He repeatedly asked officers, “why are you laying your hands on me?”
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In November 2022, uniformed soldiers questioned Kumanan at Mullaitivu Press Club, claiming that a new commanding officer was seeking the information of all commercial establishments in Mullaitivu.
In December 2022, he was summoned to the Mullaitivu office of the Assistant Superintendent of Police to give a statement on the harassment he faced by Sri Lankan navy and police officers.
International rights organisations, including Front Line Defenders and Reporters Without Borders, have raised concerns over the surveillance and harassment of Tamil journalists like Kumanan.
The repeated targeting of media workers and human rights activists reflects the broader climate of repression faced by Tamil media workers in the heavily militarised North-East.