Colombo - Journalists, civic rights organisations and opposition politicians Friday staged a strong protest in Sri Lanka's capital against the slaying of an anti-government newspaper editor. The protestors demanded that the government expedite inquiries into the killing Thursday of the Sunday Leader editor, Lasantha Wickrematunga, and warned that failure to investigate the case would lead to the conclusion that the government was responsible for the attack.
Wickramatunga, 51, was on his way to his office in Attidiya, Mt Lavinia, 12 kilometres south of the capital, when two men following him on a motorcycle opened fire at close range. He succumbed to his injuries few hours later in hospital.
His newspaper has been critical of the government administration as well as of the military in regard to the conduct of the ongoing operations against the Tamil rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the northern part of the country.
The protestors chanted slogans against the ruling President Mahinda Rajapaksa government for its failure to ensure media freedom as a series of attacks against journalists and media institutions have taken place in recent months.
The slaying of the editor came two days after an unidentified gang stormed a privately owned television and radio station and destroyed the main control room and caused extensive damage by setting off bombs.
The Sri Lankan government has said that investigations are underway into both incidents, but so far no arrests have been made.
Members of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday spoke out in parliament against the killing of the editor and the attack on the TV/radio station.
The US Department of State also condemned the two attacks. "The United States is deeply concerned that such attacks undermine efforts to build a united and democratic Sri Lanka where the rights of all people are protected. We call on the government of Sri Lanka to investigate these attacks expeditiously, bring the perpetrators to justice, and take all possible measures to protect freedom of expression for members ofthe press," said Robert A Wood, deputy spokesman for the US State Department.
The European Commission also expressed concern about the assassination of the editor. Commissioner for External Reations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner called on the Sri Lankan government to put in place a protection mechanism to ensure their safety.
