COLOMBO: The United States has stated that it is deeply concerned over a cancellation of a journalism training session in Colombo over the weekend.

The cancellation of the training which was focused on digital security for Sri Lanka’s journalists based in former northern war areas and financially supported by the US government, was accompanied by a series of threats and intimidation of participants and other journalists around the country, including threats against at least one journalist who made a statement criticising the government over the cancellation, an embassy statement said. The training session cancelled over the weekend was the third to be cancelled in Sri Lanka since May.

Police have not provided security for threatened journalists or taken action against the groups making the threats, the US embassy statement noted. It urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of fundamental rights of journalists and of all Sri Lankans.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014