IGP ordered to probe assault on photo-journalsits

(August 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene has ordered the IG Police to take immediate action and apprehend the medical students allegedly behind the mob-style attack on a group of journalists near Carey College Punchi Borella.

A photo journalists from the independent Wijeya Newspaper group were allegedly assaulted by a large group of medical students while they were taking pictures during the course of a mild newspaper interview and their camera equipments forcibly taken away.

Later a Sirisa and Lankadeepa cameraman who had arrived at the scene to cover the incidents were brutally assaulted by the students resulting in the hospitilisation of the Sirisa journalist.

At least 10 students were later questioned bv thw Cinnamaon Gardens Police and later released after their statements were recorded..

Meanwhile several Media Rights organizations strongly condemned the incident and called on the police and relevant authorities to hold an urgent inquiry and apprehend all those behind the attack saying it was a real threat to media freedom in the country. - Sri Lanka Guardian