#MeToo movement rocks Sri Lanka press

Sri Lanka's government yesterday ordered an investigation 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.

Other women journalists have since taken to Twitter in a campaign reminiscent of the #MeToo movement that began in the United States in 2017.

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.

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.

Another, Kavindya Thennakoon described how a senior colleague tried to kiss her against her will.

Government spokesman and Minister of Mass Media, Keheliya Rambukwella said he had asked the Government Information Department to investigate and ensure women journalists could work in a safe environment.