Date Type 12/09/2012 JUA Case No Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted LKA 4/2012 Sri Lanka Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Allegations of violations against human rights defenders, including attempted abduction, surveillance and intimidation. According to the information received, Dr. Nirmal Dewasiri, President of the Federation of University Teachers Unions and Secretary of the Arts Faculty Teachers' Association of the University of Colombo, has been subjected to repeated acts of surveillance and intimidation. Most recently, on 22 June 2012, Dr. Dewasiri received a phone call from a person who identified himself as one of two men from the Ministry of Defence who were witnessed on 19 June enquiring about him to neighbours. During the call, the man reportedly threatened to harm Dr. Dewasiri's family if he did not cease his trade union activities. On 5 July 2012, prominent Sri Lanka X News journalist and human rights defender Mr. Shantha P. Wijesooriya was in the Colombo suburb of Nugegoda, when he noticed that he was being followed by a white van. He changed his route in order to avoid the van. While doing so, two unidentified persons attempted to grab him and drag him towards the van, the journalist managed to escape. Sources indicate that Mr. Wijesooriya and other Sri Lanka X News journalists have been repeatedly subjected to threats and intimidation since 2008. On 25 April 2011, Mr. Wijesooriya was arrested and detained for seventeen days on charges of contempt for an article published by Sri Lanka X News. Since September 2011, Mr. Wijesooriya and members of his family have reportedly received visits from military intelligence and CID officials, while unidentified individuals have asked about the journalist near his home. Reply A/HRC/22/67 99