A group of Tamil journalists from the Northern Province has reportedly been denied the opportunity to hand over a letter recently to President Ranil Wickremesinghe calling for justice for their slain colleagues.

These Tamil journalists have been among provincial journalists who were recently invited for an interaction with President Wickremesinghe at the Waters Edge Hotel in Battaramulla. 

Most Tamil journalists had reportedly boycotted the event in a show of protest against the murder of journalists, restrictions to media freedom, and other forms of repression.

It is also learnt that some Tamil journalists are disgruntled over restrictions imposed on them against reporting the President’s recent visits to the north.

However, a group of Tamil journalists had attended the event at the invitation of the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment. The event had been organised by former Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara.

They had been prevented by President’s Security Division (PSD) personnel from handing over their letter to Wickremesinghe.

Only a few Sinhalese journalists had been allowed to express their views and also meet with the President, according to reports.

It is learnt that the letter that was to be handed over to the President by the Tamil journalists calls for an accountability mechanism to ensure justice for slain and missing journalists.