Unidentified gunmen shoot Sri Lanka journalist

Sandya Ekneligoda, wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, center, speaks to reporters during a protest rally outside the parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. Relatives, colleagues and opposition activists staged a protest rally Thursday demanding that the Sri Lanka government hold proper investigation to find out what happened to Ekneligoda who went missing in January 2010. AP

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka— Colleagues and police say unidentified gunmen have shot and seriously wounded a journalist for an independent newspaper near Sri Lanka’s capital.

The editor of the Sunday Leader, Sakunthala Perera, said Saturday that Faraz Shaukarally was wounded Friday night by three gunmen who stormed into his home in Mt. Lavinia on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo.

She said Faraz suffered injuries to his neck.

Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said an investigation was underway and declined to comment further.

The director of Colombo National Hospital, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, said Faraz is in intensive care and will undergo an operation shortly.

The newspaper has been critical of the government and its outspoken editor was killed four years ago.