ECONOMYNEXT – Media activists are condemning physical assaults on reporters who have investigated alleged illegal deforestation after two journalists were injured in an attack in Murippu in the Mullaitivu district on October 12.
The Free Media Movement (FMM) in a statement issued this morning says that Virakesari newspaper correspondent Kanapathipillai Kumanan and Hiru TV correspondent Shanmugam Navaseelan were allegedly attacked by illegal loggers yesterday.
They are currently warded in Ward 5 of the Mullaitivu hospital and have made complaints to the police, FMM said. Navaseelan has lost two of his teeth and Kumanan has injuries on his nose, FMM said.
The statement pointed out that while no action is being taken to thwart the widespread destruction of forests, assaults on journalists who are exposing these acts “is a tragic situation.”
On October 3, Journalist Indunil Wijenayake who investigated illegal sand mining in the Kumbukkan oya in Moneragala was subjected to assault, the media watchdog said.
FMM demands that action be taken against those responsible for the assaults. (Colombo, October 13, 2020)
Reported by Arjuna Ranawana