Diplomats sent media hit list

An unidentified group claiming to be from the Military has informed several diplomatic missions that 27 media persons are on a hit list for being critical of the Government.

The 27 media persons who have been named in the letter marked 'confidential' represent both the print and electronic media. The two page letter had been sent to several diplomatic missions last week.

The Sunday Leader learns some diplomatic missions have informed journalists in the list of the threat contained in the anonymous letter while stating they cannot vouch for the credibility of the source of the letter or the seriousness of the threat.

UNP Free Media spokesman Dayasiri Jayasekera last week stated there was information that lives of 27 journalists were under threat, a charge the Government denied through Media Minister Anura Yapa.