This is the time to be a journalist!

Well, here I am joining the bandwagon and blogging about the recent attacks on journalists.

I’m still a tad lost as to why Namal Perera was assaulted… To my knowledge he hadn’t written anything controversial since of recent. The only explanation I can offer is that it’s all to do with the quelling of the media… (ahem… And I say that at the risk of sounding presumptuous of course…but then again what the heck! )

SLPI has decided to take matters into their own hands and is offering a reward of 5 million big ones for the capture of those who attacked Namal. This seems to be the best alternative considering previous attacks on journalists, including The Nation’s Deputy Editor Keith Noyahr, have only lead to a blind alley!

However, I do have my reservations about this tactic… Namal was not able to identify his assailants (as like several other victimised journalists) so, it makes you wonder how the white-van-goons will be apprehended… Unless some bystander was able to take a mental photograph of the attackers that evening…

But what’s oh-so-cool about this is several international press organisations and the like have supported this venture! I found that pretty neat… although I’ve still got my doubts as to whether this could ACTUALLY work…

A few nights before SLPI received information that Namal was to be abducted from the Apollo hospital. Security around his room was tightened… with cops as well as SLPI people (couldn’t rule out the ‘shady-cop’ possibility)… strategically placed in and around his room. (Well maybe not strategically per se… that just makes it sound impressive…)

With Namal’s horrifying experience slowly fading into the back drop while justice goes unserved (as like many times before) SLPI has made a conjecture as to who could be the next target… And while this particular person is being given extra security, all possible measure are been taken to ensure the safety of… others within the building… that is inclusive of SLCJ and SLPCC. (As life-threatening as it all is, I have to admit I find it kinda thrilling! This is the time to be a journalist!)

In the meantime, there’s been some cloak-and-dagger stuff happening around SLPI. Vehicles without number plates have been spotted cruising past the building, once more and then back again (talk about tactless espionage!). There’s no doubt that SLPI is being watched, but while they’ve got their beady little eye on SLPI, SLPI is keeping a close watch on them!