G Thevaraja, a human rights defender from Vavuniya, was assaulted by an unidentified gang on October 8th while Sri Lanka's human rights record was being reviewed at the UN Human Rights Committee. Thevaraja was attacked hours after he concluded a discussion with members of the Vavuniya citizens committee on a protest they were planning to stage on Friday 10th October urging the authorities to free detained human rights defender Balendran Jayakumari. He was attacked by four people and was heavily assaulted by iron rods. According to reports, the attackers threatened to kill him if he went on to stage the protest. Thevaraja has been admitted to hospital to receive further treatments.