{"id":119479,"date":"2014-02-03T05:15:40","date_gmt":"2014-02-02T23:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=119479"},"modified":"2014-02-14T14:13:22","modified_gmt":"2014-02-14T08:43:22","slug":"mel-murder-third-in-a-string-of-attacks-on-sri-lankas-top-business-reporters-in-the-last-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/mel-murder-third-in-a-string-of-attacks-on-sri-lankas-top-business-reporters-in-the-last-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Mel Murder; Third In A String Of Attacks On Sri Lanka\u2019s Top Business Reporters In The Last Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday\u2019s murder of former editor of the Lanka Business Online and leading economic journalist\u00a0Mel Gunasekera<\/a><\/span>, is the third in a string of attacks on Sri Lanka\u2019s top business reporters in the last year. In February last year the Sunday Leader journalist, Faraz Shaukatally<\/a><\/span>, was shot by unidentified men and admitted to hospital. In August 2013 there was an attack on the house of the business editor of the Sunday Leader who was married to the Associate Editor of the same paper. The couple subsequently fled the country. Reporting on Sri Lanka\u2019s economy has become an increasingly risky profession as it often unearths allegations of corruption involving top politicians<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"Mel\"<\/a>

Mel<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

According to the police all three attacks were robbery attempts.<\/p>\n

Three\u00a0top\u00a0business\u00a0journalists were attacked are;<\/strong><\/p>\n

February 16, 2013 – Sunday Leader Journalist Faraz Shaukatally<\/a><\/span> was shot by an unidentified group. He was admitted to the Kalubowila hospital.<\/p>\n

August 24, 2013 – The Sunday Leader business editor Romesh Abeywickrema<\/span><\/a>‘s house ( Husband of the \u00a0Associate Editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema<\/span><\/a> ) residence was attacked<\/p>\n

February 02, \u00a02014 \u2013 \u00a0A leading economic journalist, former Agence France Presse (AFP) and Lanka Business Online editor Mel Gunesekera<\/span><\/a> has been found murdered in her home in Battaramulla, a suburb of Colombo.<\/p>\n

Related posts;<\/p>\n

Mel Gunasekera Murder; Suspect Arrested In Dompe<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

An Eulogy: Mel Gunasekera<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka AFP Journalist Murdered In Her Home<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

UN \u2018Deeply Disturbed\u2019 By Sri Lankan Shooting<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>\u201cFonseka Killed Lasantha\u201d President Told Lal Three Times: Uvindu Tells Navi Pillay<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Journalist Mandana Attack: One Shot Dead, Four Armed Men In Police Custody<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rajapaksa Family Stands To Receive In Commission Anywhere Between US$1.2 To US$ 1.8 Billion During 2005-15<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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