A Sri Lankan minister held hostage by state television employees needed stitches to head injuries today after being pelted with stones and sprayed with paint and urine, officials and witnesses said.
Non-cabinet labour minister Mervyn Silva entered state-owned Rupavahini to complain that a speech he gave the previous day to reopen a bridge destroyed by the 2004 tsunami was not aired.
After heated exchanges Mr Silva's aide dragged the news director out of the newsroom, tearing open his shirt.
The broadcaster's irate staff then hemmed the minister and his entourage into a small room, and would not let them leave, demanding an apology.
Mr Silva was released after he apologised for the incident, but as he was escorted by police to his vehicle, some of the surrounding crowd pelted him with stones and poured dirty water over him.
Some members of the crowd said the water was mixed with urine.
"He has some head injuries and we have put stitches. For further observation and treatment we have admitted him to the hospital," said Hector Weerasinghe, director-general of Colombo National Hospital.
Local television showed hundreds of people at the premises shouting and jeering at the minister, who has previously been involved in brawls with the media.
Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa called the incident "unfortunate".