Sri Lanka website's office torched after government criticism

By Iqbal Athas, For CNN

January 31, 2011 6:49 a.m. EST

January 31, 2011 6:49 a.m. EST

A Sri Lankan police officer examines the torched office of Lanka-e-News, a website critical of the government.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Computers and the library of Lanka-e-News are "completely destroyed," the website says
• Its news editor accuses the government of corruption
• Journalists have suffered unprecedented intimidation and violence lately, he says
• The president orders police to investigate the attack

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Unknown assailants torched the offices of a Sri Lankan website critical of the government Monday.
"The main office of the website comprising the computer hall and the most precious and valuable library have been completely destroyed," Lanka-e-News said in its own report on the attack.
"For many days now, we learnt from neighbors, unknown men have been carrying out surveillance outside and making inquiries about staff. Last night a caller threatened me that I would be killed," said Bennet Rupasinghe, news editor of the widely read website.
"All this is because we have been posting stories critical of the government," he said.Full Story>>>