Two journalists harassed at Parliament!

Two journalists taking footage near the committee room at the Parliament complex this morning (17) have been subjected to harassment by two MPs of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

The journalists who had faced this incident are Prageeth Perera who is the President of the Sri Lanka Parliamentary Journalists' Association and Kasun Samaraweera.

The journalists' mobile phones, which they had been using to take footage, had been forcibly taken from them, reports say.

At the chamber MP Channa Jayasumana had informed the Speaker that certain individuals who are not MPs nor staff have been taking footage and to ensure the safety of the MPs.

However, opposition leader - Sajith Premadasa clarified the matter before the House and said the individuals are journalists.

Noting that it is an attack against media and free speech, Mr. Premadasa requested the Speaker of the House to intervene in returning their equipment.  and urged to return them their equipment.