Sri Lankan Army refutes accusations on journalist attack

Sri Lankan Army today refuted its role in a robbery attempt at the home of a leading women journalist who has been critical of the government.
The Army in a statement blamed a five-member gang, including a soldier awaiting discharge and a military deserter for the burglary at the home of Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema, a leading columnist in the English language 'Sunday Leader' newspaper.
A soldier awaiting discharge from the Army and a military deserter were among the gang of robbers who had attacked the journalist's home, the Army said.
A statement from the military spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that the accusations had been levelled against the Army for the house break-in that happened early hours of yesterday.

"It is deplorable that some parties trying to implicate the Army in this criminal act", Wanigasooriya's said.
The break-in at the house in Colombo south around 2 AM local time was met with police firing after police arrived at the scene upon being informed.

One of the five robbers was shot dead by the police.
Free Media Movement, the media watch dog has called for an investigation to establish if the attack was due to Abeywickrema's journalism.
Her paper, Sunday Leader has frequently come under attack including the murder of its founder editor Lasanthav Wickrematunga.
The Sunday Leader is considered a major critic of the present government and media activists allege that is the reason it has been targeted and that journalists have been forced to self-censor their work for fear of violent attacks.