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Alleged intimidation of media personnel: Media Minister speaks to IGP 

28 Aug 2021

  • Police asked to inform Info Dept. if journo with Info ID is to be questioned  
  • Probe/questioning of journos to be done within law without intimidation 
By Yoshitha Perera   Responding to the recent alleged intimidation of media personnel by the Sri Lanka Police, Minister of Mass Media Dullas Alahapperuma informed The Sunday Morning that he had personally drawn the attention of Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne to three issues pertaining to recent methods of investigating and questioning journalists by the Police.  Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Alahapperuma said that he had specifically informed the IGP that if the Police are investigating or questioning media personnel with the Government Information Department ID, the Police have to report the particular incident to the Information Department within one hour.   He said: “I had specifically informed the IGP to explain under what basis the Police is conducting an inquiry on the media personnel.”  The Minister further said that, as the third issue, he had pointed out to the IGP that they ensure that the investigating or questioning of journalists is done within the confines of the law, and without inciting fear in them.   “Over the last three days, I personally discussed these issues with the IGP. I cannot say that the law should not be enforced, yet, as the Media Minister, I will continue to focus on these journalists.” Meanwhile, when contacted, Police Media Spokesman and Director, Attorney-at-Law SSP Nihal Thalduwa informed The Sunday Morning that the IGP is yet to make a statement on this matter.   Last week, the Media Organisations Collective wrote to the IGP, urging him to ensure the protection of journalists when investigating and questioning them, without inciting fear.     “We urge that if journalists need to be questioned or arrested for a legal matter, to do it according to the law and in a transparent manner. The recent incidents involving Lanka e-News journalist Keerthi Ratnayake, web journalist Thushara Wanniarachchi, and Thamilan newspaper Editor R. Sivaraja are causes for concern,” the letter mentioned.  The letter was co-signed by the Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Unions, the Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, the Tamil Media Forum, and the Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association.   


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