Navy Commander dismisses allegation of threatening a journalist - DS

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has dismissed allegation that he threatened a journalist during the protest held at the Hambantota harbor, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi told Ada Derana.

Hettiarachchi also went on to say he personally looked into the matter as media reports alleged yesterday that the Navy Commander had allegedly threatened the journalist.

The protesters also alleged that the naval troops fired warning shots to break up the protest. The protest was staged by dock workers who have held up a Japanese vessel for four days at the port.

Temporary workers began striking Tuesday, demanding to be made permanent employees of the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority, which manages island nation’s ports. The workers fear they may lose their jobs as the government is planning a deal with a Chinese firm — the China Merchants Ports Holding Company.

The Navy took swift measures to disperse the port employees who staged the  protest campaign at the Hambantota Port premises. These employees were disrupting the routine work of the harbour and creating much loss of revenue to the government and incurring heavy demurrage to shipping lines.