Sri Lanka: Media watchdog claims government persecution

Media watchdog 'Free Media Movement (FMM)' claims Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse is persecuting journalists while shielding a government minister who allegedly assaulted a top official of the state-owned television station last week. According to the Gulf Times, the minister allegedly stormed into the SLRC, along with his bodyguards, and assaulted news director Chandrasekara for not showing him speaking at a tsunami anniversary function in Matara December 26, in which the Sri Lankan president was the chief guest.

The FMM said: “We are at a loss to understand how the president can, with conscience, persecute journalists of the SLRC whilst shielding his errant minister in blatant violation of every applicable democratic ethic.”

The organisation claims that instead of discipining the minister, President Rajapakse asked the police to investigate the conduct of the journalists.

Apparently the TV audience approved of the treatment of the minister.