Sri Lankan journalists have staged a "Black January" protest, remembering a series of attacks against journalists and media workers during the month in recent years and condemning authorities' failure to punish the culprits.

Journalists, rights activists and opposition lawmakers protested Tuesday in the capital, Colombo, saying the month of January has been "the darkest month" for journalists.

In January over the last four years, an outspoken editor was killed, a private television station was attacked, a website journalist went missing and his office was set on fire.

Protesters shouted slogans, holding placards reading, "Resist suppression of the media."