'Lanka' scribe assaulted

29 May 2010 03:08 pm

A journalist working for the ‘Lanka’  newspaper who was campaigning for an art festival in Moneragala was assaulted by a group of thugs headed by a regional politician in the area this evening, Lanka Editor Chandana Sirimalwatte told Daily Mirror online.

Sirimalwatte added that after the journalist was attacked his mobile phone was taken away. The assault had taken place after the journalist had taken a photograph of the vehicle the thugs had used.

After the intervention of the police, the matter was settled and the politician had promise not to hinder the work of ‘Lanka’ journalists in the future. Sirimalwatte added that a bystander who had inquired into what was going on had also been severely assaulted by one of the thugs. (GS)