Slain Sri Lankan journalist to get UNESCO award

Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge who penned his own death for exposing political corruption and human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, has been named for the 2009 World Press Freedom Prize by the UNESCO.

"Jury members were moved to an almost unanimous choice by a man who was clearly conscious of the dangers he faced but nevertheless chose to speak out, even beyond his grave," said Joe Thloloe, president of the 14-member jury.

Lasantha, a Christian, was assassinated on January 8, for allegedly writing about corruption and the war between the government and LTTE. His articles were published in the Sunday Leader, which he founded along with his brother in 1994.

Before his death, the journalist had warned his brother Lal that the government would try to kill him, and apprised him of a cupboard containing all his sensitive documents.

In one of the document titled "And then they came for me," published three days after the murder, the 50-year-old journalist had predicted his own death. "When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me," it read.

UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura remarked, "In awarding the 2009 World Press Freedom Prize to a committed journalist who opposed war, UNESCO, along with media professionals from all over the world, recognizes the important role that freedom of expression can play in fostering mutual understanding and reconciliation, the theme of this year's World Press Freedom Day celebration."

Lasantha will be the second reporter in the award's 12-year history to be honoured posthumously.

UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura will present the award in a ceremony on May 3, World Press Freedom Day

For the past 30 years, at least 300,000 people in Sri Lanka have undergone suffering as a result of the country's ongoing civil war between the Singhalese government and the extremist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Over 150,000 people so far have been reported killed.

At least 14 journalists and media workers have been killed in Sri Lanka since 2006, according to Amnesty International. Another 20 have fled overseas after death threats.