Colombo, Dec 15 (NIA) – Journalists in Sri Lanka, staged a protest on Thursday against the country’s navy commander, after he was caught on camera assaulting a local journalist last week.
The journalist was allegedly assaulted by Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne when he was covering a protest at the Hambantota Port in southern Sri Lanka.
The Navy Commander has denied the assault but the government said it would launch an investigation over the incident.
The recording of the Navy Commander allegedly assaulting the journalist was caught on camera. The journalist was assaulted despite him repeatedly saying he was from the media.
Government Information Department Director General Ranga Kalansooriya earlier in the week said the journalist, had violated basic ethical practices when covering sensitive conflict situations.
Issuing a statement Kalansooriya said that the government has initiated an inquiry into the alleged assault on the journalist on Saturday.
Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne led the naval troops to free a Japanese vessel which was being held hostage by the protesting employees of the Hambantota Port last week.