Colombo (AsiaNews) - Several media organizations, and opposition political parties took part yesterday in a protest to condemn the arsonist attack on the online newspaper Lanka-e-News and ask for the arrest of the culprits. In the early afternoon of Jan. 31, as reported by the same site, "a group of strangers stormed the offices and set them on fire. Everything inside the building was destroyed. " No one was hurt. The demonstration, held at the Lipton Circus in Colombo, organized by the Alliance of Media Organization, was also attended by Anona Fonseka, wife of General Sarath Fonseka.

Bennett Rupasinghe, editor of the newspaper, speaking to AsiaNews, said: "There should be freedom to write without censorship, to provide current information to people. This attack could be the work of the government because of our critical articles". The Lanka-e-News, considered an opposition site, had received threats since the days of the presidential elections of January 2010 for its support of Fonseka.

Minister of Media and Communication Keheliya Rambukwella rejects the accusations calling them "an attempt to destroy the image of the government, and if the Lanka-e-News blames us without any evidence that is unjust".

The arson attack that struck the headquarters of the Lanka-e-News is the latest in a series of attacks against the media, which many interpret as attempts to limit freedom of the press and expression in Sri Lanka. About a year ago, the journalist and political cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda - who worked as a freelance journalist for the site - disappeared. On 30 July last year, a similar incident hit Siyatha, television and independent radio station. Again, no one has been arrested and investigation reports were never disclosed.