Iruresa

Iruresa
TypeWeekly newspaper
Owner(s)Asanga Seneviratne (72%)
Lal Wickrematunge (28%)
PublisherLeader Publications (Private) Limited
Founded1994 (1994)
LanguageSinhala
HeadquartersNo. 24 Katukurunduwatte Road, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka
Sister newspapersThe Morning Leader
The Sunday Leader

Iruresa is a Sinhala language Sri Lankan weekly newspaper published by Lithira Publications (Private) Limited, part of Leader Publications (Private) Limited. It was founded in 1994 and is published from Colombo. Its sister newspapers are The Sunday Leader and the defunct The Morning Leader. Founded by brothers Lasantha Wickrematunge and Lal Wickrematunge, the newspaper is known for its outspoken and controversial news coverage.

Iruresa was founded under the Irudina name. The Irudina name was registered by President's Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty.[1]

On the night of 16 October 2005 armed men entered the printing press of Leader Publications, threatened the manager with "dire consequences" if the newspapers continued to be printed and then set fire to bundles of newspapers.[2][3] The attack came after The Sunday Leader had published an article which alleged that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had misappropriated tsunami relief funds.[4]

The printing press of Leader Publications in Ratmalana was burnt down on 21 November 2007 by a group of armed masked men who entered the building, poured petrol on the printing machines and set fire to them.[5][6] The attack came after The Morning Leader had been critical of the Asian Tribune's relationship with a government backed paramilitary group.[5][6]

Irudina journalist Dileesha Abeysundera was the target of a kidnapping attempt on 28 September 2009 when a group of unidentified men tried to force their way into her home in Borella.[7][8]

After Lasantha Wickrematunge's assassination in 2009 Ladduwahetty demanded Rs. 3 million from Lal Wickrematunge for use of the Irudina name.[1] Lal Wickrematunge renamed the newspaper Iruresa.[1]

In September 2012 Asanga Seneviratne, an ally of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, bought a 72% stake in the Iruresa and its sister newspaper The Sunday Leader.[9][10] Seneviratne is managing director of Asia Fort Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd and vice president of Sri Lanka Cricket.[11][12] He is also president of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union and controversially appointed President Rajapaksa's son Yoshitha Rajapaksa as captain of the Sri Lanka national rugby union team.[10][13] The Sunday Leader had published a number of reports exposing Seneviratne's property developments and investment deals.[10]

After buying the Iruresa, Seneviratne bought the Irudina name from Ladduwahetty for Rs. 2 million.[1] The Iruresa is to be renamed Irudina.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Nalin sells "Irudina" for Rs. 2 million". Lanka News Web. 18 October 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Armed men enter Colombo weekly press, set fire, warn employees". TamilNet. 17 October 2005.
  3. ^ "FMM condemns attack on weeklies". Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 18 October 2005. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Sri Lanka". Attacks on the Press 2005: Sri Lanka. Committee to Protect Journalists.
  5. ^ a b "Masked men burn Sunday Leader printing press". TamilNet. 21 November 2007.
  6. ^ a b Palihawadana, Norman (22 November 2007). "Armed gang burns down Leader newspapers press". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  7. ^ "Irudina journalist threatened at her home". The Sunday Leader. 4 October 2009. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Sri Lanka journalist threatened by Sinhala gang". TamilNet. 30 September 2009.
  9. ^ Haviland, Charles (21 September 2012). "Sri Lanka Sunday Leader editor Frederica Jansz sacked". BBC News.
  10. ^ a b c Doherty, Ben (6 October 2012). "Australia denies asylum to Sri Lankan editor facing government death threats". The Age.
  11. ^ "The Office Bearers". Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2012-10-28.
  12. ^ "Ex Co Members". Sri Lanka Cricket. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08.
  13. ^ Pathirana, Saroj (14 April 2012). "Senior rugby players avoid national team". BBC Sinhala.