http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/August8184100CH.html
Journalists protest in Sri Lanka Friday, August 8, 2008, 18:41 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka. Aug 08, Colombo: Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association staged a march today in Colombo to protest the recent attack by Labor Minister Mervyn Silva and his supporters on Sirasa television journalists in Kelaniya. Journalists from five media organisations supported by opposition politicians and Buddhist clergy demonstrated near the presidental residence accusing the President and government of interfering with police investigations over Minister Silva's continuous attacks on media personnel. Despie that the attack on Sirasa journalists in Kelaniya was cought on tape the police have failed to arrest any suspects yet. Journalist union leaders accuse President and the government of protecting the rogue Minister who attacked the news director of the state-owned television station Rupavahini last December. Recently the Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa denouncing the recent conduct of Mervyn Silva said he will take action to prevent such situations taking place in future and to put a complete stop to it during his tenure as the Minister of Mass Media and Information. Political observers say the Mervyn Silva's behavior brings the entire ruling party to disgrace and he is a liability to the party. They question why no action is being taken against his rogue acts by the party or the President.
