RAW Involvement In Alleged 'Assassination Attempt': 'The Hindu' Defends Report: Says Reporter Meticulously Fact-Checked The Story

While rejecting repeated denials issued by the Sri Lankan government on newspaper reports on President Maithripala Sirisena's alleged remarks on 'RAW involvement' in an attempt on his life, the Hindu newspaper group says the company stands by its report and the story is accurate. 

"Another case of saying something wild & bizarre, expecting it to remain within a closed room, and then blaming the media for the furore caused. The Hindu did its job — truth-telling," N.Ram, the Chairman of Kasturi & Sons Limited, the publisher of Hindu, said. 

"Our Sri Lanka Correspondent verified what she had learnt with multiple independent sources before publishing her report. Let them issue their lame denials, try to wriggle out of what was said — but we stand by our Correspondent’s meticulously fact-checked story," Ram also tweeted. 

Ram is a widely respected journalist in Sri Lanka and a recipient of the 'Sri Lanka Ratna' award presented by the Sri Lankan government. 

However, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, a member of the SLFP and an ally of President Sirisena, yesterday requested the President to conduct an inquiry into ministers those who leaked false information to the press.