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.
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)