FMM condemns attack against Mullaithivu journalists; two arrested

Two persons have been arrested over the attack on two Mullaitivu based journalists on Monday, Police said.  The police are looking for three others who were involved in the assault on the journalists when they were reporting on timber smuggling activities in Murippu, Mullaithivu.

Journalists KanapathipillaiKumanan, attached to Virakesari newspaper and Hiru TV correspondent ShanmugamThavaseelan, were attacked on the evening of October 12.   The two journalists had lodged a complaint with the Mullaitivu Police Judicial Medical Unit and were admitted to Ward five of the Mullaitivu Base Hospital for treatment.

Condemning the attack on journalists, the Free Media Movement (FMM) noted that in the context of regular reports of environmental disasters, “it is a tragedy that instead of strict legal action taken against these perpetrators, that journalists who come forward to report are being subjected to severe attacks,”

The FMM also noted that another journalist IndunilWijenayake, who went to cover an illegal sand mining operation near the KumbukkanOyabridge in Moneragala, was attacked by the illegal sand miners on October 3. 

The FMM urged the authorities to initiate legal action against those involved, regardless of rank, enabling journalists to pursue their profession freely without facing such tragic situations.