Lasantha Wijeratne, a journalist and writer, was attacked on Thursday after he had published a book entitled “Wasteful Development and Corruption”, which was critical of Sri Lanka’s opposition candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Speaking to reporters his wife, Tharaka Nanayakkara, told reporters “Four men broke into the house and stabbed him in the arm after holding a pistol to his wife's head”. Before leaving they also destroyed the furniture.
Wijeratne had sent a copy of his book to the New Democratic Front candidate Sajith Premadasa prior to the attack.
Gotabaya was the Defence Secretary during the final stages of the civil war and oversaw a great number of human rights violations and crimes against humanity. After the war, he was accused of mobilising white van squads who would abduct dissenting journalists. According to Reporters Without Borders, at least 14 journalists were killed whilst he was in power.
Read more here: Reporters Without Borders calls on SL presidential candidates to protect press freedom
Police have launched an investigation into the matter but have not arrested any suspects yet.
Mahinda Deshapriya, chairman of the Election Commission, has stated that whilst this is a relatively more peaceful election the media campaign has been the “worst ever”. He states that there has been a heavy bias towards the opposition.
Read more here.
