Since January 26, 2009, Eknaligoda has remained missing despite an ongoing police investigation. Eknaligoda writes a critical column in the local papers and is a political cartoonist. He disappeared when returning home from his office. He had been abducted in August of last year but was released within hours of the police detaining him. His disappearance has been noted by Reporters sans Frontieres, Cartoonists Rights Network International, and Article 19.

Eknaligoda suffers from Diabetes and has a serious heart condition. Without his medication, his life is at risk. During the recent war between the Government forces and the Tamil Tigers, journalists have been killed, disappeared and threatened with total impunity. Now that the war is over and the siting president reelected, it seems the pattern continues.

Robert Russell of Cartoonists Rights Network International said, "For him to be missing for so long is ominous. An ongoing police investigation is no comfort as few in the police system will buck the black operations of the political goon squads. The atmosphere of fear for journalists in Sri Lanka continues despite the war against the Tamil Tigers being over and the president sworn in after recent elections."

Cartoonists Rights Network International calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to assure the safely of all journalists and find and return Mr. Eknaligoda safely to his family.

Read about other artists in trouble here:
http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/artist-alert-january-2010.pdf