Journalist Kumudu Champika Jayawardana of www.ethalaya.org was shot at around 11.45pm last night ( 30th Oct 2007) in Colombo, on his way home from office. He was admitted to Colombo General Hospital and underwent an urgent operation. His situation is not critical, his colleagues told FMM. He was riding his motorbike home when he was shot at on Nawala road, Rajagiriya. www.ethalaya.com was recently launched as the web site of the popular Sinhala language TV channel Sirasa. Sirasa is part of the MTV/MBC network own by Capitol Maharaja Organisation Limited. Kumudu Champika Jayawardana is the news editor of www.ethalaya.com Two men in shorts had tried to stop his motorbike by hand signal but Kumudy rode past them only to be shot from his back. In the wake withdrawing the license of five popular radio channels by the government, the state media has unleashed another round of anti media campaign to justify the government action. In addition last week has seen some political speeches and strong opinions against Sinhala language news websites coming from the government politicians. www.LankaeNews.com , one of the websites attacked by name has been receiving various threats since then. This is the context that shooting of journalist Kumudu C. Jayawardana has to be placed. Although FMM does not have any evidence to blame any party for this shooting, it expresses its serious concern that another journalist has been shot at and earnestly request the government to conduct an open and speedy inquiry into this shooting. Free Media Movement -For more information -Sunanda Deshapriya – (+ 94)777 312457 |