Political officer Mahendra Ratnaweera attached to the British High Commission in Sri Lanka and acting manager advocacy of the Sri Lanka Press Institute Namal Perera travelling by car, on their way home from work were stopped and attacked by unknown persons. The Sri Lanka Press Institute said a group of people carried out the assault. It is not clear who they were. The two men were both seriously injured in the attack and taken to Colombo hospital. The assault took place on the busy highway, in the vicinity of an army installation, the government Information Department and the security checkpoint.

According to Mr Perera, he had locked the car doors but the attackers had smashed the windows and beat them with batons and clubs and escaped when a large group of bystanders gathered.

The British High Commissioner in Colombo, Peter Hayes, visited the men in hospital and condemned what he called a "despicable act".

Hays told journalists HM government is working with the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure the attackers were brought to justice.