Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

Commandos help free Sri Lankan minister held by reporters

by Amal Jayasinghe


Commandos rescued a Sri Lankan minister held in an office by state-run TV staff on Thursday who were angered by his bodyguards` assault on a journalist in a drama broadcast live nationwide.

An anti-hijacking and hostage rescue squad was deployed at the Rupavahini state television network to free Labour Minister Mervin Silva, who had allegedly stormed the studios with bodyguards and attacked journalists, officials said.

Unedited footage broadcast live over the state television channel showed army officers and police escorting Silva out of the usually tightly guarded building located within a high security zone of Colombo.

Police anti-riot squads were moved to the station while heavily armed commandos dressed in body armour and wearing hard hats moved in to the premises while unarmed officers rescued the minister amid jeering by rebellious staff.

`The minister is being held in an office by the staff,` the television said earlier in a statement broadcast while interrupting regular programming.

The minister, bleeding from his forehead, was escorted out after being held for more than two-and-a-half hours. The station said the high drama was a `tremendous victory` for media in the country.

Minister Silva was forced to apologise to the staff in the presence of an army of cameramen and press photographers while one bodyguard, who was erroneously identified by an anchor as his son, made similar pleas for mercy.

Police announced over the television that they `arrested` those who had taken part in the alleged assault and urged employees to remain calm.

Silva has been accused of storming into private media outlets and abusing journalists in the past while his son had earlier been ordered by a court to stay away from night clubs after several brawls.

A local rights group, the Free Media Movement (FMM), said the shocking images on state television showed the arrogance of politicians as well as the decline in public confidence in law and order.

`The minister had obviously thought that the state media is their personal property and must broadcast whatever they say,` an FMM spokesman said. `The action of the journalists in `detaining` the minister shows they have no confidence in the police.`

Police and politicians were shouted down as media minister Lakshman Yapa tried to pacify the employees. Yapa condemned Silva`s storming the station and apparently assaulting journalists.

The state television said Silva had taken exception to the station not broadcasting a speech he made at a public rally attended by President Mahinda Rajapakse in the south of the island on Wednesday.

Rupavahini`s unprecedented live coverage of the minister`s detention was the first such unrest at the station since its inception in 1982.