2 Indian journalists briefly detained in Galle

Two Indian journalists who are in the country to cover the India-Sri Lanka Test series were briefly detained yesterday (July 30th) in Galle on security grounds, the Free Media Movement says.

The FMM said in a statement that it was relieved that both of them were released without much delay.

Indian Techvision cameraman Ali Ekram of RP TV was detained by police while doing a story on the Galle cricket stadium's backdrop, the Old Dutch Fort.

He was released after other journalists covering the test match intervened.

Another TV journalist Mustaque Ali working for Zee news was detained by a group of fishermen while he was filming the beach close to the Galle Fort.

He was able to contact fellow journalists to explain that he was there to cover the cricket match but until the Navy arrived he was not allowed to go back to his hotel.

He was asked by the Navy to delete the footage of beach close to the harbour, the FMM press release said.

Both these incidents show the difficulties and hostile environments faced by journalists working in Sri Lanka especially photo and television journalists.

In the past too, a number of foreign photojournalists were detained on security reasons only because they were covering normal day to day arrangements, the FMM said.

The FMM said it hopes that Galle cricket authorities will take necessary steps to ensure safety of the journalists in light of the two incidents.