Namal Rajapaksa, National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Member of Parliament, stated that the summoning of Aruna newspaper editor Mahinda Illeperuma to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is a warning to all journalists and an attempt to suppress the media. He strongly condemned what he described as an act of media repression.
Rajapaksa said he opposes the use of the CID by a political movement that claims to have fought against suppression laws, alleging that it is now being used to intimidate or silence journalists.
Mahinda Illeperuma has been summoned to the CID regarding a story published in Aruna, which reported that, in addition to the Grama Niladhari certificate, a certificate from the Chairman of the Public Security Committee is also required to obtain police reports. Rajapaksa noted that summoning the editor to the CID without first lodging a complaint with the Press Commission or referring the matter to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee is clear evidence of repression by the government.
He further reiterated his condemnation of media suppression, stating that it is deeply regrettable that the CID is being used to stifle the media and pursue what he described as the narrow interests of the government.
