This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7161086.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Reporters hold Sri Lanka minister Commandos free Sri Lanka minister
(about 4 hours later)
Police in Sri Lanka have been sent to rescue a minister held by journalists at a TV station after one of his aides allegedly assaulted one of them. Sri Lankan commandos have rescued a government minister from a television station where he was being held hostage after apparently trying to storm it.
The minister, Mervyn Silva, went to state-run Rupavahini television to complain that one of his speeches had not been covered in the news. Journalists locked up Labour Minister Mervin Silva after one of his aides allegedly assaulted a news director.
A "henchman" manhandled the news director, the station said and journalists wanted an apology. Furious journalists refused to let the minister leave until he had apologised.
Mr Silva was shown holed up in an office as journalists protested. Mr Silva was splattered with red paint. He also needed treatment for a minor head wound apparently caused by a fall as he was escorted from the building.
Minister for Labour Relations and Manpower Mervyn Silva went to complain why journalists had not covered his speech at a ceremony he attended with President Mahinda Rajapakse to reopen a bridge destroyed by the 2004 tsunami. Mr Silva had gone to the state-run Rupavahini television to complain that it had not covered a speech he gave on Wednesday marking the re-opening of a bridge destroyed by the 2004 tsunami.
If my action is considered as a wrong act, I would like to apologise to the employees Mervin SilvaSri Lanka labour minister
"A henchman of the minister forcefully pulled the news director and all employees are protesting demanding an apology," Rupavahini's director-general said."A henchman of the minister forcefully pulled the news director and all employees are protesting demanding an apology," Rupavahini's director-general said.
The news director's shirt was ripped open, Reuters news agency said. The news director's shirt was ripped open, reports said.
In a statement interrupting regular scheduling the TV said the minister was being held in an office by the staff - and pictures showed Mr Silva in a small room flanked by police.In a statement interrupting regular scheduling the TV said the minister was being held in an office by the staff - and pictures showed Mr Silva in a small room flanked by police.
Dozens of staff could be seen protesting in the corridors, refusing to let him leave pending an apology to their director. Dozens of staff could be seen protesting in the corridors, refusing to let him leave pending an apology.
Commandos and police with tear-gas were deployed around the television station as the stand-off continued.
"If my action is considered as a wrong act, I would like to apologise to the employees," the minister said, in front of a battery of cameras.
Journalists jeered as the security forces led him out of the building.
The Sri Lankan media minister, Lakshma Yapa, criticised Mr Silva's storming of the station, calling it "unfortunate".