Government orders order to investigate sexual harassment in the media following a series of allegations by female editorial staff.
The Sri Lankan government has ordered an investigation into sexual harassment in the media following a series of #MeToo allegations by female editorial staff.
The flood of claims began after journalist Sarah Kellapatha tweeted last week that a male colleague had threatened to rape her while working at an unnamed newspaper since 2010-17.
“It was almost impossible for any woman to wear a dress to work, without having to endure salacious statements from male colleagues about their legs and bodies in general, or they would utter a strong‘ sexy ’whenever they liked it,” Kellapatha said.
He said he had “blocked [the rape threat] from my mind for YEARS, as a coping mechanism, until one day I remembered it and broke down in tears ”.
I’ve had fellow men walk into my personal space in the newsroom, the dining room, hallways, office transportation, and even the elevator, enough to make me feel uncomfortably uncomfortable with my body and even with my clothes, regretting wearing tight jeans. or a low-cut t-shirt.
– Sarah Kellapatha (@saararrr) June 18, 2021
Other women journalists have participated on Twitter in a campaign commemorating the #MeToo movement that began in the United States in 2017 when the crimes of sex offender Harvey Weinstein arose.
Journalist Sahla Ilham said she was sexually abused by a “famous editor” in a missing newspaper who had pressured her family to shut up.
“I’ve been silent too long, now I also have to add what happened to me,” Ilham said.
I have been silent for a long time, now I also have to add what happened to me. After I started working at a now-renowned newspaper, a famous editor of a now-defunct newspaper sexually abused me. It was to the point that I controlled my family to stay calm. –
– sahla ilham (@sahlailham) June 21, 2021
U.S. journalist Jordana Narin, who had been interned at a Sri Lankan newspaper, said a senior colleague had subjected her to a sexual harassment campaign before the editor-in-chief forced her to resign. .
“[He] he was the best journalist Sri Lanka had ever seen. I couldn’t wait to learn from him … Instead, I spent the next two months being a favorite of him, then I called him, embarrassed by him and throbbed repeatedly at him, ”Narin said.
Another, Kavindya Thennakoon, hailed the women for talking about “predatory men,” describing how a senior colleague tried to kiss her against her will.
I’m not sure about the up and down moves, but here’s a little compilation thread #Me too instances a #lka. The perps haven’t been named, and I don’t want to do that and be mistreated, but I’ll give enough clues so locals can know what is what, or who, where.
– Aisha (@aishnazim) June 18, 2021
Dharisha Bastians, a former editor of the Sunday Observer, called the allegations “disturbing, agonizing and too familiar.”
“Solidarity with journalists for the courage to talk about what has happened in the #SriLanka newsrooms for too long,” he said.
“A time of responsibility, critical reflection and change to make publishers safer. #MeToo, ”he said on Twitter.
Government spokesman and media minister Keheliya Rambukwella said he had asked the Government Information Department to investigate and ensure that journalists could work in a safe environment.
“We will take the most severe action possible,” Rambukwella told the press in Colombo. “We will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
He said he had already ordered the director general of the Department of Information to initiate an investigation into the allegations filed on social media.
