Long shadow of Prageeth Eknaligoda's disappearance

FIFTEEN years after the chilling disappearance of journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda, we are once again reminded of the long and painful struggle for justice, mostly waged by his spouse Sandya.

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This week, in a small but significant development, the main suspect in the case was taken into custody—not for the disappearance itself, but for allegedly intimidating a witness. While this arrest is a welcome step forward, it is also a grim reminder of how far justice still is for Eknaligoda, his family, and for the principles of press freedom and accountability in Sri Lanka.

Eknaligoda disappeared on 24 January 2010, just two days before the Presidential election. His wife, Sandya Eknaligoda, has since become a symbol of courage and perseverance, tirelessly campaigning for truth and justice in the face of apathy, threats, and systemic obstruction. Investigations have pointed to a horrifying sequence of events: Eknaligoda is believed to have been abducted, held at the Girithale army camp, and subsequently killed, with his body never recovered.