Media Minister condemns

COLOMBO: Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa on behalf of the Government has vehemently condemned the heinous attack on the Udayan, newspaper office in Jaffna yesterday.

The statement by the Media Minister:

The Minister of Mass Media and Information on behalf of the Government vehemently condemns the heinous attack on the 'Udayan' newspaper office in Jaffna this evening by the group of armed terrorists with the intension to discredit the Government on the World Press Freedom Day on which the UNESCO has selected Sri Lanka as the venue for the international conference to mark the occasion. The President has instructed the Inspector General of Police and the security forces to conduct an impartial investigation into the attack and report to him as soon as possible.

Government has received information that a group of armed personnel have attacked the 'Udayan' newspaper office and killed two persons who are employed in the office.

It is not yet known whether any journalist is injured in this incident. The Government considers this with utmost importance and believes this attack was intended to harm the government's image as a nation with freedom of expression and media independence.

The Government takes a very serious view on this attack and will take every possible step to bring the culprits to book. Meanwhile the President has directed that an immediate and comprehensive investigation be held to apprehend the perpetrators who no doubt wished to discredit the Government and to disrupt the Press Freedom Day events as well as the resolute efforts of the Government to advance the peace process.