FMM says underworld gangs are ordered to kill and threaten journalists

A group identifying themselves as police officers have raided the house of Poddala Jayantha, the General Secretary of the Professional Journalists' Association (PJA) early morning on Monday.

Police have taken statements from the journalist, his wife and neighbours, Jayantha told BBC Sandeshaya.

'Group of 14 people'

"An unidentified group knocked at my door at about 3.30 am and asked me to come out to find some information," Poddala Jayantha said addding that he did not come out until his neighbours gathered around the house.

As neighbours started to gather after his wife started screaming, the group who came in two vehicles left the scene.

An unidentified group knocked at my door at about 3.30 am and asked me to come out to find some information Poddala Jayantha

The vehicles were identified as a police jeep bearing registration number GC 0306, and a van with registration number, 253-2008, Jayantha said.

The police who admitted the jeep belonged to Matara police division have told him that they have not records of the jeep being released during the night for any official purpose.

Media watchdogs have expressed serious threats to journalists specially after Minister Mervyn Silva was assaulted by the workers at Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC).

FMM statement

The minister, who was angry that the state-run SLRC did not telecast his indecent remarks at a rally has entered SLRC with his supporters who later assaulted SLRC news director, TMG Chandrasekara.

	Journalists have received death threats after Minister Silva was assaulted

The Free Media Movement (FMM) says many journalists who carried news that the minister was assaulted have received death threats.

In a statement the FMM said it is "deeply disturbed to hear that instead of immediate and stern disciplinary measures taken against the Minister, of which to date there has been none, underworld gangs in collusion with senior politicians are planning to intimidate and even murder some journalists involved in this incident".

Poddala Jayantha, who was threatened by the unidentified group of over 14 people on Monday morning, was very vocal against the threats to media specially by the Sri Lankan authorities.