HC condemned the attack as an 'despicable act'

Political Officer of the British High Commission (BHC) Mahendra Ratnaweera and Media Director of Sri Lanka Press Institute, Namal Perera were assaulted close to the department of information in Narahenpita.

Both of them were admitted to hospital following the attack a group of unidentified assailants on Monday evening.

After visiting the victims at hospital British High Commissioner in Colombo, Dr. Peter Hayes, condemned the assault as a ‘despicable act’.

Vehicle blocked

Britain is working with the Sri Lankan authorities, he said, to ensure that the perpetrators of the attack are brought to justice.

A group of people who came in a vehicle bearing number 253-2908 obstructed their car and assaulted the two SLPI Director General, Ranga Kalansooriya

The Director General of the SLPI, Ranga Kalansooriya, told BBC Sandeshaya that the assailants have blocked vehicle in which Mr. Ratnaweera and Mr. Perera were travelling.

"A group of people who came in a vehicle bearing number 253-2908 obstructed their car and assaulted the two", he said.

There is no indication as to the motive for the attack, but Mr Perera is the latest of a number of journalists in the country to have been subjected to violence recently.

'Very powerful hand'

Media minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, told journalists in the hospital that the government deeply regrets the incident.

“We condemn this brutal assault. We have already identified the owners of the two vehicles in which the assailants travelled,” he said.

	Journalists say they do not trust minister's pledge to investigate

Mr. Yapa, a member of the recently appointed ministerial panel to look into threats to media, promised a prompt investigation into the incident.
Journalist union leaders, however, were not optimistic.

President of Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, Sanath Balasuriya, said there should be a ‘very powerful hand’ behind the incident.

“It is highly unlikely that this was done by a criminal gang in the middle of the capital,” he told BBCSinhala.com.

It is the first such incident since the ministerial panel was appointed on 24 June.

The union leader said it is an opportunity for the panel to prove it is genuine in finding the perpetrators of such attacks against journalists.