Fire destroys offices of website critical of Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 January 2011, 03:59 GMT]
The office of news website LankaeNews located in Rajagiriya, a suburb of Colombo, has reportedly been set on fire by a group of unknown persons who broke into the premises Monday at 2:00 a.m., according to reports from Colombo. The fire has caused extensive damages to the computer and communications equipment in the facililty. Talangama police are investigating into the incident.

To detract focus from the difficulty faced by independent journalists, Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapakse had ordered the Inspector General of Police to conduct an immediate inquiry and submit a report regarding the fire.

LankaeNews attained notoriety within the ruling circles in Colombo for its support of opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka in Sri Lanka's presidential elections in 2005.

One of Website's cartoonists, Prageeth Eknaligoda, disappeared in January 2010. LankaeNews editor Sandaruewan Senadeera left Sri Lanka fearing threat to his life after receiving death threats.