Attack on Uthayan, SLMC condemns

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress vehemently condemned the attack at the 'Uthayan' and 'Sanjeevi' media institutions on May 2.

Two staff including the Marketing Manager were killed and three others critically wounded in the shooting. Computers and other equipment were destroyed in the attack. The SLMC as a political party respecting free media, are highly perturbed over this attack, states a Sri Lanka Muslim Congress media release.

It said:

The dastardly and bestial attack on 'Uthayan' media institution which coincides with the observation of International Day of Media Freedom poses a threat to media freedom itself.

Media institutions and media personnel are not using weapons to put across the views and, therefore, any views so expressed should only be countered in writing.

Those incapable of that approach are taking recourse to armed attacks on the free media. Similar attacks, were staged previously on the 'Uthayan' media institution and the institution of its sister paper 'Sudaroli' in Colombo.

Those who were behind these attacks should realise that they cannot put forward the points of view through such violence.

The SLMC wishes to reiterate on its stance that the lives and properties of all media personnel should be safeguarded for them to function independently and freely.