'The Sunday Leader' journalist escapes assassination attempt

In yet another attack targeting scribes in Sri Lanka, a journalist was shot inside his home in Colombo by armed men around midnight on Friday.

The Sunday Leader journalist Faraz Shaukatally narrowly escaped death when an unidentified group opened fire at him injuring him in his neck. He was rushed to Colombo South Teaching Hospital  and is reportedly out of danger.

Mr. Shaukatally is well known for his investigative reporting often involving corruption.

In January 2009, the founding editor of The Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickramatunge was gunned down in Colombo forcing his journalist wife Sonali Samarasinghe to flee into exile. Mr.Wikramatunge's successor Frederica Jansz left the country last year after allegedly receiving death threats.

© JDS