SL Young Journalists Association
(Lanka-e-News - 11.Dec.2016, 1040PM) Navy commander Vice Admiral Raveendra Wijegunaratne who arrived to control the Hambantota Port workers’ protest , and to release the two ships which were anchored in the Port had obstructed the provincial journalists who were there to carry out their assignments , and assaulted them . This action is most frowned upon and condemned by us .
When the mass media was openly critical about the media freedom and its existence , Minister of mass media Gayantha Karunathileke at the media briefing, about a fortnight ago to reveal the cabinet decisions said, now the persecution of the media personnel has stopped . This assurance of the minister has been proved unequivocally as only verbal vis a vis the latest incident .
We do not see this incident as something ordinary , and warn that it portends grave danger. The Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association therefore has already urged the Human Rights Commission (HRC) , the IGP and the News Director of the Government to institute an immediate probe into this.
If the recommendations made by the HRC in the Rathupaswala incident that there had been persecution of the journalists were implemented , a repetition ( the Navy Commander’s harassment in this instance) would not have occurred . Hence , the SL Young Journalists Association requests an independent, impartial and fair investigation be conducted against the Navy Commander and action taken against him.,
Tharidhu Uduwaragedera
Chairman
Tharidhu Jayawardena
Secretary
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by (2016-12-11 17:18:00)
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Hiding behind the uniform and abusing power, the thug known as the navy commander has committed the crime of assaulting a citizen. In the civilized world, such an act will be frowned upon by all the people but here the government and its supporters will try to white wash the incident. Mr. Sirisena, this is your opportunity to destroy your integrity of prove that you are the real commander in chief. Your duty is to protect the citizen, not the hooligan. You may bow down in front of Buddhist clergy or offer flowers to Lord Buddha but if you ignore this thuggery, you are behaving like a thug too.
-- by Nelson on 2016-12-13
Hiding behind the status as journalists individual's cannot create wrong picture about a situation. Because of Yahapalanaya indoctrinate ordinary propel cannot suffer. Workers Unions , Doctors, Bus operators etc hold citizen right of free movements by blocking roads and strikes , free medicine by strikes , now revenue to country. And journalist do not talk about hardship to masses and for the country. It is time that consumers/customers get together protest against all these nonsense.
-- by Piyal on 2016-12-14