Gunmen shoot Sri Lanka journalist
2013-02-16 11:31
Colombo - Unidentified gunmen have shot and seriously
wounded a journalist for an independent newspaper near Sri Lanka's capital, his
colleagues and police said on Saturday.
Faraz Shaukarally, a journalist of the Sunday Leader, was
the latest victim of a string of attacks on journalists and media workers in
this Indian ocean island.
Amnesty International says at least 14 Sri Lankan media
workers have been killed since the beginning of 2006.
The editor of the English-language newspaper, Sakunthala
Perera, said that Faraz was wounded on Friday night by three gunmen who stormed
into his home in Mount Lavinia on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo.
She said Faraz suffered injuries to his neck and added
that he was writing investigative stories for the paper and the "attack
could be related to an article" written by him.
Police spokesperson Prishantha Jayakody said an
investigation was underway and declined to comment further.
The director of Colombo National Hospital, Dr Anil
Jasinghe, said Faraz is in intensive care and will undergo an operation
shortly.
The newspaper has been harshly critical of the government
and its outspoken editor Lasantha Wickrematunga was killed four years ago.
However, the newspaper's criticism has not been as sharp
since it was bought by a businessman close to the ruling party last year.
The Committee to Protect Journalists says Sri Lanka was
the fourth most dangerous country for journalists in 2010.
More than a dozen journalists have fled the country over
the last four years, fearing for their safety and seeking refuge abroad.
- SAPA
