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UK diplomat attacked in Sri Lanka UK diplomat attacked in Sri Lanka
(about 1 hour later)
A British High Commission employee in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, has been attacked along with a local journalist.A British High Commission employee in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, has been attacked along with a local journalist.
Political officer Mahendra Ratnaweera and reporter Namal Perera were travelling by car together when they were stopped and attacked.Political officer Mahendra Ratnaweera and reporter Namal Perera were travelling by car together when they were stopped and attacked.
The Sri Lanka Press Institute said a group of people carried out the assault. It is not clear who they were.The Sri Lanka Press Institute said a group of people carried out the assault. It is not clear who they were.
Mr Perera is the latest of a number of journalists in the country to have been subjected to violence recently.Mr Perera is the latest of a number of journalists in the country to have been subjected to violence recently.
The two men were both seriously injured in the attack and taken to hospital.The two men were both seriously injured in the attack and taken to hospital.
Mr Perera told reporters that he had locked the car doors but the attackers had smashed the windows.Mr Perera told reporters that he had locked the car doors but the attackers had smashed the windows.
"They continued to beat us with batons and clubs and escaped when a large group of bystanders gathered," he said, the AFP news agency reports."They continued to beat us with batons and clubs and escaped when a large group of bystanders gathered," he said, the AFP news agency reports.
The British High Commissioner in Colombo, Peter Hayes, visited the men in hospital and condemned what he called a "despicable act".
He told journalists Britain was working with the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure the attackers were brought to justice.