Journalist Faraz Shaukarally was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, police said Saturday, after receiving a gun shot wound to the neck.

He was attacked by unknown assailants outside his home late on Friday night. Police said the motive of the attackers remains unknown, although "investigations are underway."

Shaukarally, who is a reporter with the anti-establishment "Sunday Leader" newspaper, is said to be in a stable condition.

The editor of the same newspaper was shot dead near his office in January 2009. He was a staunch critic of Sri Lanka's government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse.

According to the rights groups Amnesty International at least 14 Sri Lankan media workers have been killed since the start of 2006.

ccp/slk (AFP, dpa, AP)