SLPP MPs snatch phones of parliamentary journalists

• Opp. Leader calls for fair inquiry
• Journalists says they were engaged in routine coverage when they were accosted by 2 SLPP MPs

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to inquire into an incident where two parliamentary journalists who were engaged in covering a meeting on the ground floor of the Parliament had their phones snatched away by two ruling party MPs.

Premadasa said the two journalists had been engaged in their work when the MPs accosted them and snatched away their phones which they were using to video Government MPs as they were walking out of a party meeting.

The Opposition Leader did not name the MP involved but requested a fair inquiry.

The Speaker said he would inquire into the incident. Meanwhile the journalists said they had been filming the MPs as they have been doing routinely when two SLPP MPS had set upon them and snatched their phone saying they were not authorised to film in the area.