SRI LANKA'S government ordered an investigation on Tuesday (22) into sexual harassment in the media after a string of #MeToo allegations from female newsroom 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 from 2010-17.
"It was almost impossible for any female to wear a dress to work, without having to endure salacious remarks from male colleagues about their legs and bodies in general, or they’d utter a loud 'sexy' whenever they felt like it," Kellapatha said.
She said she 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".
Other women journalists have since taken to Twitter in a campaign reminiscent of the #MeToo movement that began in the United States in 2017 when sex offender Harvey Weinstein's crimes emerged.
One was journalist Sahla Ilham who said she was sexually abused by a "famous editor" at a now-defunct paper who had pressured her family to keep quiet.
"I have been silent for too long, now I have to add what happened to me as well," Ilham said.
US journalist Jordana Narin, who had been an intern at a Sri Lankan newspaper, said a senior colleague had subjected her to a “campaign of sexual harassment” before the chief editor forced him to resign.
"(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 favoured by him, then yelled at by him, embarrassed by him, and groped repeatedly by him," Narin said.
Another, Kavindya Thennakoon, hailed women for speaking up about "predatory men", describing how a senior colleague tried to kiss her against her will.
Dharisha Bastians, the former editor of the Sunday Observer, called the allegations "disturbing, agonising, and all too familiar."
"Solidarity with women journalists for the courage to speak out about what has been happening in #SriLanka newsrooms for too long," she said.
"Past time for accountability, critical reflection & change to make editorials safer. #MeToo," she said on Twitter.
Government spokesman and minister for mass media Keheliya Rambukwella said he had asked the government information department to investigate and ensure women journalists could work in a safe environment.
"We will take the sternest action possible," Rambukwella told reporters in Colombo. "We will not hesitate to take appropriate action."
He said he had already ordered the director-general of the information department to launch an investigation into the allegations made on social media.
Clifford had previously denied killing Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters, Louise Hunt, 25, and Hannah Hunt, 28. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads guilty to crossbow murders of BBC presenter’s family
A 26-YEAR-OLD man on Wednesday pleaded guilty to murdering two daughters of a BBC sports commentator and stabbing to death their mother in a crossbow attack.
Kyle Clifford had previously denied killing Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters, Louise Hunt, 25, and Hannah Hunt, 28.
However, appearing via video link at Cambridge Crown Court in eastern England, Clifford changed his pleas.
The court heard that Clifford tied up Louise Hunt, his former partner, binding her arms and ankles with duct tape before shooting her in the chest with a crossbow at the family home last July.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, one count of false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons. However, Clifford denied raping Louise.
The murders took place at the family home in the commuter town of Bushey, near Watford, northwest of London.
Clifford was arrested in July following a manhunt after the bodies of the three women were discovered.
(With inputs from AFP)