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Two Parliament journos’ phones allegedly snatched by SLPP MPs

18 May 2022

  • Indika Anuruddha Herath and Prof. Channa Jayasumana claim they were filmed 
  • Sajith requests action from Speaker, Speaker to look into matter 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Two MPs representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had, it is alleged, forcibly seized two mobile phones from two journalists who were covering the proceedings of Parliament yesterday (17). The journalists who were covering the parliamentary proceedings yesterday said that journalists Prageeth Perera and Kasun Samaraweera had been using their mobile phones to cover the proceedings of Parliament. At that time, SLPP MPs Indika Anuruddha Herath and Prof. Channa Jayasumana, who were coming out of the relevant hall after the ruling party MPs’ meeting, had, according to the journalists on the scene, allegedly forcibly seized their mobile phones, alleging that they (Perera and Samaraweera) had filmed them. Meanwhile, addressing Parliament yesterday evening, Herath initially stated that they had handed over the two mobile phones to Parliament Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando, but later said that the mobile phones were handed over to Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.  Regarding the incident, he commented: “An issue arose with regard to these mobile phones. We have handed them over to Fernando. We also request Speaker Abeywardena to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident, because these phones are the reason why this disaster has spread across the country today. A mobile phone can tell where a person is, what their colour is, and what they are wearing.”  He further added that journalists should not be allowed to come to the venue of a group meeting of MPs and focus their personal mobile phones onto the faces of the MPs.  “They focus their mobile phones onto the faces of the MPs and say that this particular person is coming today, they are leaving from here, they are passing that junction, they are going into this vehicle, etc. This cannot be allowed to happen. This is why every MP is insecure today.”  He therefore requested Speaker Abeywardena to conduct a full investigation into the incident. He called on Speaker Abeywardena to make a fair inquiry into matters such as under what permission the journalists had been allowed into the said location, and whether they were allowed to carry mobile phones with them. At this point, Herath, who initially said that the two mobile phones in question had been handed over to Fernando, said that they had been safely handed over to Speaker Abeywardena. Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa also informed the Speaker Abeywardena about the incident.  He told the Speaker: “Perera and Samaraweera were, as usual, reporting on Parliamentary proceedings and they are free to make videos and record audio using mobile phones. However, the SLPP MPs who came out after the ruling Party MPs’ meeting have forcibly taken the mobile phones of the two journalists. I do not know which MPs took the mobile phones. I am not going to mention their names because I did not see the incident. However, you should intervene and take action to return their mobile phones.  “I request Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who, as we know, has always stood for media freedom, Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, and Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga to look into this incident and return the mobile phones of these journalists.”   Following his speech, Speaker Abeywardena informed Parliament that he would look into the incident.

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