Namal Rajapaksa, National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Member of Parliament, has strongly condemned the summoning of Mahinda Illeperuma, editor of the Aruna newspaper, to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Rajapaksa described the summons as a warning to all journalists and an attempt to suppress media freedom. He criticized the use of the CID by a political movement that claims to have fought against media suppression, saying it is being used to intimidate journalists.
Illeperuma was called to the CID over a report published in Aruna stating that, in addition to the Grama Niladhari certificate, a certificate from the Chairman of the Public Security Committee is required to obtain police reports. Rajapaksa argued that summoning the editor without first approaching the Press Commission or the Parliamentary Privileges Committee is clear evidence of government repression.
He further stated that using the CID to target journalists is “very regrettable” and amounts to media suppression aimed at serving the narrow interests of the government.
