The unconstitutional government is said to have commenced a hunt for a chosen list of journalists in state media according to sources. The hunt started on the day of the swearing in of Mahinda Rajapaksa itself when ITN Chairman Subhash Jayawardene was attacked by a mob when trying to leave the premises. He was also issued death threats by the group.
Sources also say employees of ITN such as Current Affairs producer Dhammika Yatinkinda, journalists Daya Neththasinghe, Shalika Wimalasena and Jayasiri Alawatta have been asked to not return. Similar warnings were also issued to news readers Supun Bhagya and Dinushi Weerasinghe. They have been told to meet Sudharman Radaliyagoda if they want to keep their jobs. Sources also say Sudharman who is warranted for corruption related offences and was protected by the President is now armed and remaining within the ITN premises.
Likewise Sanjaya Liyanage of Rupavahini news has also been asked not to return and issued death threats.
Meanwhile tweeting Editor of the Sunday Observer Dharisha Bastians also claimed she was ousted as she refused to be coerced in to taking an editorial like forced upon by SLPP supporters within the organization. The Daily news had also been forced to change it's front page on Saturday by the SLPP union goon Sanjaya Bandara at Lake House along with several senior journalists within the organization.
Sources within Lake House say it's publications are being monitored and being published according to the whims of certain government agents close to the President who had visited the editorials on Saturday to ensure no negative articles against the Rajapaksa's are published.
He was seen accompanied by SLPP union representatives and journalists such as Mahinda Aluthgedara of Dinamina and Sandasen Marasinghe of the Daily News.
However responding to Bastian's tweet Namal Rajapaksa denied any knowledge of any such occurrence within the organization.
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