AFP Journalist murdered in Sri Lanka

[manlion]

Former AFP journalist murdered in Sri Lanka: police | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.

Srilanka long notorious history of chilling murders on journalists continues into 2014 , a Former AFP journalist Mel Gunasekera was stabbed to death on Sunday after a break-in at her family’s home in Colombo.

Mel Gunsekera's reports were known to have angered Lankan defence secretary Gottabaya Rajapaksa

2011 AFP report by Mel Gunasekera

SRI LANKA BRIEF: Sri Lankan journalist attacked 'with iron bars'

Some 17 journalists and media employees have been killed in Sri Lanka in the past decade, with none of the murders being solved, according to rights groups.

 

[Skyline]

Suspect arrested over the murder of journo

A 39 year-old suspect was arrested, in connection with the murder of business journalist Mel Gunasekera..The arrest was made in Dompe at around 8.00 pm, within hours of the murder, police said.

Police also found a blackberry phone belonging Ms. Gunasekera in the suspect’s possession. The suspect had worked as the painter at Ms. Gunasekera’s house, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said.

Police also found a Blackberry mobile phone owned by Ms. Gunasekera in suspect’s possession. The suspect had worked as a painter at Ms. Gunasekera’s house, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said.

Initial investigation revealed that the suspect had worked at Ms. Gunasekera's house for several days and had found that there was usually nobody in the house on Sunday mornings as everyone went to church.

However, Ms. Gunasekera had not gone to the church today. The suspect had entered the house around 6am yesterday through the main door which had not been locked. According to the suspect’s statement, Ms. Gunasekera had seen him as soon as he had entered the house.

Then the panicked suspect had stabbed Ms. Gunasekera using two knives taken from the victim's house itself.

Although the suspect told police during the interrogation that he robbed only Rs. 1,200 and a mobile phone from the house, but police believe that the suspect had robbed more money from the house.
The police said that after committing the crime, the suspect had gone to Hanwella. At the time of his arrest at Dompe, the suspect was under influence of liquor.

Police said the scene of the suspect going into the house and leaving the house had been recorded in a CCTV camera of a nearby house.

Residents in the neighbourhood told the police that they heard screaming from the victim’s house in the morning. Further police investigations are being carried out.

Following the murder, a special investigation had been launched by six police teams.
Suspect arrested over the murder of journo

 

[airpower183]

Don't blame random criminal activity on politically motivated government moves.

Just like your white van business.

And just because shes black as charcoal doesn't mean shes Tamil and reports negative things so the government has to kill her.

This is just random break and enter.

 

[venu309]

Don't blame random criminal activity on politically motivated government moves.

Just like your white van business.

And just because shes black as charcoal doesn't mean shes Tamil and reports negative things so the government has to kill her.

This is just random break and enter.

Wow! that's racism at its best. And I frankly did not expect Srilankans to be that racist.

 

[airpower183]

Wow! that's racism at its best. And I frankly did not expect Srilankans to be that racist.

How is that racism? I was pointing out a fact. I wasn't saying she was inferior/superior because shes black.

 

[venu309]

If you wanted to point out a fact, then you would have said maybe 'dark skinned' & not 'black as charcoal', which is intended to insult a person.

 

[airpower183]

If you wanted to point out a fact, then you would have said maybe 'dark skinned' & not 'black as charcoal', which is intended to insult a person.

I apologize, I will reconsider the use of my adjectives.

 

[Parul]

Rest in peace!

 

[venu309]

I apologize, I will reconsider the use of my adjectives.

No worries buddy. Just pointed out.

 

[manlion]

so the snow white Aryan neo Nazis' Gestapo are no longer using white vans , now execution is sub contracted to white washing painters ?

The fact is Mel Gunasekera was the regime's critic, the Gestapo was unhappy with her style of reporting

Sri Lankan journalist predicted own execution - CNN.com

Wickrematunga wrote that he was twice assaulted and his house was fired upon.
"Despite the government's sanctimonious assurances, there was never a serious police inquiry into the perpetrators of these attacks, and the attackers were never apprehended.

"In all of these cases, I have reason to believe the attacks were inspired by the government. When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me," he wrote.

 

[kurup]

RIP journalist .

 

[jarves]

RIP.

 

[Saradiel]

Wow! that's racism at its best. And I frankly did not expect Srilankans to be that racist.

I am a lankan, i accept he is a nutter

 

[manlion]

Mel Murder; Third In A String Of Attacks On Sri Lanka’s Top Business Reporters In The Last Year | Colombo Telegraph

Reporting on Sri Lanka’s economy has become an increasingly risky profession as it often unearths allegations of corruption involving top politicians.

It’s not yet clear if the murder of Mel Gunasekera has a political angle or is just a robbery that went wrong, but in a country like Sri Lanka where so many critical journalists have been silenced there will always be those who wonder what she wrote that might have displeased the authorities.

 

[Robin Mahanama]

"And just because shes black as charcoal doesn't mean shes Tamil and reports negative things so the government has to kill her"

Airpower183 - how well put? I love how the Singhalese are so desperate to claim that they are fairer skinned than the tamils. Have not seen the skin tone of Aravinde De Silva, Jayasuria, etc? I have been up north and there are just as many fair skinned Tamils up there.

I know a lot of Indians and they keep calling Sri Lankans (collectively) dark etc. But I have visited India and in Mumbai they are dark, not like what is shown on Bollywood.

Regardless, why do you need to mention the colour, why is it so important? You would not dare say it about a West Indian, because they not tolerate it, you would be scared.

Also, you did not choose your colour, so in your next life, karma etc, you may be born dark.

Please lets focus on the issues of this poor lady being murdered rather than her pigmentation.