Sri Lanka: investigative media worker target of cyber attack
Event- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Initial Date
- Dec 25, 2023
- Event Description
On 25 December 2023, Sri Lankan investigative journalist and human rights defender Tharindu Jayawardhana was targeted by a cyber attack in which hackers gained control of his Facebook account. He is still unable to access his account, but has taken immediate steps to protect his security.
Tharindu Jayawardhana is a prominent investigative journalist and human rights defender who has built a large following on Facebook and other online platforms. He uses this medium to raise awareness and campaign on human rights issues and violations in Sri Lanka, particularly focusing on police brutality and excesses.
Shortly before the cyber attack, Tharindu Jayawardhana had used his Facebook account to share sensitive information regarding the controversial appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Sri Lanka. The appointment of this officer took place despite widespread allegations of abuse, custodial torture, and a Supreme Court decision on 14 December 2023 that held him responsible for torture. Deshabandu Tennakoon has a history of targeting human rights defenders, including an online death threat against Tharindu Jayawardhana in June 2021.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Online Attack and Harassment
- Surveillance
- Rights Concerned
- Internet freedom
- Freedom of expression
- Online
- Right to healthy and safe environment
- Right to privacy
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 6.936102954472445
Longitude: 79.85181007391003
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 25 December 2023, Tharindu Jayawardhana, investigative media worker, was the target of a cyber attack which gained control of his social media account, shortly after he shared sensitive information regarding the controversial appointment of a high-ranking police officer in Colombo, Sri Lanka.