The Jaffna newspaper that refused to stop printing during a civil war
In short: Founded in 1985, Uthayan has survived artillery strikes, air raids, and targeted assassinations. While other Jaffna publications were seized by militant groups, this Tamil-language daily remained the peninsula's sole voice, even as its staff faced constant threats and its offices were frequently targeted by violence.
Uthayan, meaning 'Morning' in Tamil, has operated from Jaffna since its first edition on 27 November 1985. During the Sri Lankan civil war, it occupied a precarious position, facing pressure from both government forces and rebel militant groups. Although the LTTE seized Eelamurasu and Eelanadu in 1987 and 1994, Uthayan stood alone as the sole Jaffna-based newspaper to continue printing throughout the conflict.
The paper's survival has come at a heavy cost. In 1987, Sri Lankan security forces used artillery on the Navalar Road where the offices were located, and in 1990, an air raid hit the offices, killing one employee. The paper has faced violence from various sides; in 2006, gunmen killed two employees, Suresh Kumar and Ranjith Kumar, after the paper published a mocking cartoon of EPDP leader Douglas Devananda. Other staff members have been murdered, abducted, or beaten by paramilitary groups and other forces.
Logistical warfare has also shaped the publication. When the Sri Lankan military launched an offensive in October 1995, staff fled with a printing machine and generator to set up a temporary office in Sarasalai, Thenmarachchi. Later, when the military closed the A9 road, a shortage of newsprint and ink forced the paper to shrink from a 20,000-copy, 12-page publication to a 7,500-copy, 4-page paper. Despite these pressures, the paper has continued to serve as a vital source of information for the Tamil population.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Uthayan
- Also: Wikidata — Uthayan · CC0
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