The attack on Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) Secretary Poddala Jayantha on Monday is yet another assault on the freedom of speech and expression in Sri Lanka. It fits into a very clear pattern of the systematic neutralizing of free expression and dissent that has continued unabated for the past two years to rob the people of this country of their cherished democratic values, The Editors Guild of Sri Lanka said.

"Free expression and dissent are the cornerstones of a democracy. Each and every assault of this nature must be condemned with all severity," it said in a statement.

"However, such condemnations seem to have little impact on those in office."

Not long after the murder of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickremetunga and the assault on Rivira Editor Upali Tennakoon, the President of the Republic, no less, assured the journalists of this country that there will be no repetitions. In fact, he said that such assaults were, to use his very words, "like assaulting me" , the statement said.

"By the same token, the attack on Mr. Jayantha can be considered another assault on the President, whose assurances seem meaningless in the circumstances," it said.

Demanding an investigation into the assault of Mr. Jayantha and asking that the culprits be speedily brought to book is sine qua non to this condemnation, though The Guild is realistically pessimistic of any such outcome," it noted.

"It is most unfortunate that such incidents also go to detract from the credit due to the Armed Forces for their noteworthy achievements of recent times."