The former head of the Sri Lankan military, Minister Sarath Fonseka on Tuesday rejected news reports earlier this month that the navy commander had assaulted a journalist in Hambantota, claiming instead the navy commander had pushed the journalist away from a security circle.
“It was reported in the media that the navy commander had arrived at the scene with a dress meant for sports. But it was a uniform worn by marine pilots. We have only two marine pilots in the Navy and the Navy Commander is one of them,” Mr Fonseka said at a press conference.
“The Navy’s Special Boat Squadron (SBS) had formed a security circle because of the protestors occupying the port premises. The journalist who was said to have been attacked had breached the security circle without permission and had attempted to video the SBF operations. Then the Navy Commander had pushed him out."