Sunday, February 2, 2014

Sri Lanka: Suspected navy personnel in attack on scribe

Suspected naval personnel allegedly attacked a journalist attached to an independent web site shortly after a rugby encounter between the Navy Sport Club and the Colombo Rugby Football Club (CRFC) at the Navy grounds in Welisara yesterday evening.

The scribe who did not want to be identified told the Sunday Times that four persons had pounced on him while he was leaving the grounds towards the car park at the end of the game which was won by the Navy SC.

“I was nearing my vehicle along with three friends that included two females when the attackers came up to us and later dragged me towards the ground where I was assaulted in front of naval personnel.

The attackers needed to know the content of my reporting on the concluded match and I told them to check up the web site”, he said.

He added that the matter was later referred to senior naval personnel present who tended an apology.

However Naval Spokesperson Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya denied that naval personnel were involved in the attack but added that the matter would be investigated.

“The incident happened at the car park, away from the playing grounds so the matter will have to be investigated accordingly”, he added.
ST