Alleged attack on journalists:

President calls for report from IGP

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the Inspector General of Police for a detailed report regarding the alleged police attack on several journalists who were performing their duties, Mass Media and Communication Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

The Minister said so participating at the weekly Cabinet briefing at the Information Department yesterday. The journalists were allegedly assaulted while they were covering the recent University students' agitation near the Higher Education Ministry. The President has ordered that measures be taken once the IGP's report is received.

The report is due within the next few days, the Minister said. The Minister pointed out that student riots are reported from every part of the world and Sri Lanka is not an exception.

However, there should be a way to protest or express dissatisfaction without hampering the peaceful atmosphere in the country.

There is a democratic way to agitate.

Several extremist and short sighted politicians have tried to obtain undue political advantages by disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the universities. Responding to a journalist, the Minister said certain parties are still trying to tarnish the image of the country. "Such incidents came to light when the humanitarian mission was in progress. However, the Government could showcase the real image of the country to the world," the Minister added.

This year budget allocations for defence is less, compared to the last year. The Government had allocated Rs 260 billion in the last budget for defence.

The allocation has come down to Rs 210 billion this year.

A major portion of the allocation has to be spent on settling loans for military equipment bought from foreign countries during the humanitarian mission, Minister Rambukwella added.