Colombo (LNW): An immediate investigation should be carried out into the inhumane attack on journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedara by the Sri Lanka Police, stressed the National Movement for Social Justice in a statement today (29).
Uduwaragedara who was reporting on a protest jointly organised by several trade unions, as well as the brutal assault on him by the Police, is an unjust act that can no way be condoned, in a clear demonstration the disrespect shown by certain parties for the freedom of expression, the NMSJ pointed out.
Uduwaragedara who was hospitalised due to sustaining injuring upon the attack by the Police was granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court today (29).
Full Statement:
The arrest of journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedara who was reporting on a protest jointly organised by several trade unions, as well as the brutal assault on him by the Police, is an unjust act that can no way be condoned. It has clearly demonstrated the disrespect shown by certain parties for the freedom of expression.
The responsible parties should immediately pay attention to this brutal attack on a journalist by the Police, thereby threatening the freedom of expression, and misusing their power (Police). It is also our view that legal action should be taken against those responsible at the earliest possible.
It is sad that even though the relevant institutions have issued necessary guidelines so as to prevent this sort of incidents from happening, the relevant parties have ignored them. The Inspector General of Police, Chandana D. Wickramaratne should pay close attention to the occurance of such incidents when the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has issued clear guidelines to the Police about how to deal with public protests.
Accordingly, we, the National Movement for Social Justice, strongly request the responsible parties to investigate this incident immediately, and to take necessary measures so that such incidents do not happen again.
Sunil Jayasekara
General Secretary
National Movement for Social Justice
