Assaults on Rupavahini workers:

Bring culprits to book, orders President

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday instructed Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to bring the culprits responsible for assaults on Rupavahini employees to book immediately.

An Information Department release said yesterday that President Rajapaksa had issued this instruction after Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena had a special meeting with the President to discuss the situation faced by Rupavahini Corporation employees.

President Rajapaksa also instructed the Ministers to have special arrangements to provide security for Rupavahini employees in the backdrop of the unfortunate incidents where several Rupavahini employees have been assaulted.

The Government also expressed its surprise over the manner in which Anurasiri Hettige, President of the Rupavahini Corporation Sevaka Sangamaya was attacked exactly a day after discussions with the Defence Secretary regarding Rupavahini employees’ security.

Hettige was attacked yesterday, exactly a day after a meeting with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Inspector General of Police Victor Perera, the Management and Rupavahini Corporation Trade Unions to discuss preventing assaults on Rupavahini employees.

The Government also expressed its sorrow on the number of brutal assaults targeting Rupavahini employees.

Hettige was assaulted around 7.45 a.m. yesterday at Kotikawatta while awaiting for a bus to report for duty.

He was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital with serious injuries.