Sri Lanka expels Swiss reporter

Sri Lankan authorities have withdrawn the visa granted to a Swiss reporter covering the island's fiercely fought presidential vote and asked her to leave the country within 48 hours.

Karin Wenger of Swiss Public Radio said she was sent a letter by the immigration controller saying she must leave the island before Monday and that her application for a media accreditation card had been denied.

She had already been issued with a media accreditation by the Sri Lankan government department of information and she said her journalist visa was valid until Feb 17. 'I fear I have been kicked out for asking uncomfortable questions at a government press conference,' Wenger, who is based in New Delhi, told AFP.

A government minister had publicly criticised her for grilling the authorities on allegations of irregularities at Tuesday's vote which was comfortably won by President Mahinda Rajapakse.

There was no immediate reaction from the government or the Swiss embassy in Colombo.

A letter sent to her from the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, seen by AFP, stated: 'You are kindly informed to leave the country on or before 1 February 2010. Please note that you are not entitled to engage in any media activities in Sri Lanka during this period.

© The Straits Times