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Top Sri Lankan editor shot dead Top Sri Lankan editor shot dead
(about 3 hours later)
The editor of a Sri Lankan newspaper often critical of the government has been shot dead in Colombo.The editor of a Sri Lankan newspaper often critical of the government has been shot dead in Colombo.
Police say Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramatunga was shot by unidentified gunmen on motorcycles as he drove to work. Police say Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramatunga was shot by unidentified gunmen on motorcycles as he drove to work in the city suburbs.
He died from head wounds after nearly three hours of surgery, doctors say.He died from head wounds after nearly three hours of surgery, doctors say.
Correspondents say Mr Wickramatunga had numerous run-ins with the government. It is the second major attack on the media in Sri Lanka this week.Correspondents say Mr Wickramatunga had numerous run-ins with the government. It is the second major attack on the media in Sri Lanka this week.
On Tuesday, gunmen armed with grenades ransacked offices of the largest private TV broadcaster in the country.On Tuesday, gunmen armed with grenades ransacked offices of the largest private TV broadcaster in the country.
Journalists in Sri Lanka have suffered a string of recent attacks and media freedom groups say intimidation and violence make it one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to report.Journalists in Sri Lanka have suffered a string of recent attacks and media freedom groups say intimidation and violence make it one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to report.
Lasantha Wickramatunga meticulously collected the facts, which was why so many politicians feared him Vijitha Yapa, Ex-Sri Lankan newspaper editor Grievous blow to Sri Lankan mediaGunmen raid Sri Lanka TV station
Amnesty International said in November that at least 10 media employees had been killed in Sri Lanka since 2006.Amnesty International said in November that at least 10 media employees had been killed in Sri Lanka since 2006.
Blood-stained Some reporters say the intimidation has got worse as the war has intensified with the Tamil Tigers.
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says the government has been accused of encouraging the violence, by branding reporters seen as critical rebel-sympathisers and enemies of the state.
Sri Lanka's government has condemned the incidents and ordered full police investigations.
'Courageous'
Television pictures of Mr Wickramatunga's car showed blood-stained seats and bullet holes in the windscreen.Television pictures of Mr Wickramatunga's car showed blood-stained seats and bullet holes in the windscreen.
Critics say press freedom is under attack in Sri Lanka"We tried our best to revive him but we couldn't," hospital director Anil Jasinghe told the AFP news agency. "We tried our best to revive him but we couldn't," hospital director Anil Jasinghe told the AFP news agency.
Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said gunmen on two motorcycles had escaped after carrying out the attack. No arrests have been made. Police are investigating the attackPolice spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera said gunmen on two motorcycles had escaped after carrying out the attack. No arrests have been made.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a statement he was "grieved and shocked" by the killing and ordered a full police investigation. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a statement he was "grieved and shocked" by the killing and ordered police to investigate.
He and his associates have been accused by the Reporters Without Borders campaigning group of being "directly involved" in the killing because they "incited hatred against him and allowed an outrageous level of impunity to develop as regards violence against the press". The campaigning group Reporters Without Borders said: "Sri Lanka has lost one of its more talented, courageous and iconoclastic journalists.
"President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his associates and the government media are directly to blame because they incited hatred against him and allowed an outrageous level of impunity to develop as regards violence against the press."
Mr Wickramatunga, 52, had been highly critical of government policy and the war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. He received numerous death threats through his career and was detained on several occasions because of the controversial nature of his stories.Mr Wickramatunga, 52, had been highly critical of government policy and the war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. He received numerous death threats through his career and was detained on several occasions because of the controversial nature of his stories.
In his last editorial he accused the president of pursuing the war to stay in power.In his last editorial he accused the president of pursuing the war to stay in power.
Lasantha Wickramatunga meticulously collected the facts, which was why so many politicians feared him Vijitha Yapa, ex-Sri Lankan newspaper editor Critics say press freedom is under attack in Sri Lanka
"Winning the war? Then there must be elections around the corner. It is no secret that the war has become Mahinda Rajapaksa's recipe for electoral success," he wrote."Winning the war? Then there must be elections around the corner. It is no secret that the war has become Mahinda Rajapaksa's recipe for electoral success," he wrote.
He also criticised opposition parties for staying "mute", suggesting journalists were having to do their job for them.He also criticised opposition parties for staying "mute", suggesting journalists were having to do their job for them.
"That is why more journalists have been attacked in recent years than have opposition politicians," he said."That is why more journalists have been attacked in recent years than have opposition politicians," he said.
Mr Wickramatunga's death follows Tuesday's attack on the MBC group in Colombo. He worked for the channel as a presenter on a weekly current affairs programme.Mr Wickramatunga's death follows Tuesday's attack on the MBC group in Colombo. He worked for the channel as a presenter on a weekly current affairs programme.
MBC had been criticised by the government for its coverage of the war against the Tamil Tigers.MBC had been criticised by the government for its coverage of the war against the Tamil Tigers.
More than a dozen intruders held guards at gunpoint and shot up equipment, causing extensive damage.More than a dozen intruders held guards at gunpoint and shot up equipment, causing extensive damage.
The anti-establishment Sunday Leader regularly sends up the country's politicians and its editor had fought a number of libel cases. Libel cases
The anti-establishment Sunday Leader has regularly sent up the country's politicians and its editor had fought a number of libel cases.
He was prosecuted for criminal libel of President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 2000, but escaped serious punishment.He was prosecuted for criminal libel of President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 2000, but escaped serious punishment.
Correspondents say that while some of his stories verged on the salacious, others exposed high-level corruption - he recently reported on an arms procurement deal with Russia in which it was alleged that government ministers were receiving financial "kick-backs".Correspondents say that while some of his stories verged on the salacious, others exposed high-level corruption - he recently reported on an arms procurement deal with Russia in which it was alleged that government ministers were receiving financial "kick-backs".
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the president's brother, is currently suing the paper for defamation.Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the president's brother, is currently suing the paper for defamation.