Sri Lanka, Nov. 15 -- The Habaraduwa Police has begun investigating the Wednesday night attack on a well-known freelance journalist in which an armed group with their faces masked had entered his home in Meepe and reportedly severely assaulted him threatening death if he continued his investigative reporting of corruption relating to a prominent political family of the country.

Rights groups and media activists demonstrated in protest against the assault in Colombo yesterday.

The victim, Sinhala language journalist Lasantha Wijeratne, had been admitted to the Karapitiya hospital with cut injuries following the attack.

According to Police reports, one gang member had attacked Wijeratne with a helmet and another tried to stab him with a ...