Cops summon director Dewapriya over radio drama row

Scriptwriter and director Malaka Dewapriya has been summoned to the Police Organised Crimes Prevention Division (OCPD) tomorrow to give a statement regarding his award-winning radio drama series ‘Kanata Paarak’.

Last year, the Ven.  Angulugalle Siri Jinananda Thera of the Buddhist Information Center complained to the OCPD against the radio dramas, alleging that they distorted and defamed Buddhist terms. Based on the complaint, the police filed an action against Mr. Dewapriya at the Colombo Magistrates Court. In turn, Mr. Dewapriya filed a fundamental rights (FR) petition at the Supreme Court (SC).

The action against Mr. Dewapriya was filed under Section 291 of the Penal Code and Section 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act (ICCPR). The same laws were used to arrest writer Shakthika Sathkumara, who was remanded for over 120 days this year on charges of insulting Buddhism through his short story ‘Ardha’.

The ICCPR Act criminalises the advocacy of “national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence”. Of late it has drawn criticism from artists and activists for being used as an instrument to suppress freedom of expression.

‘Kanata Paarak’, won Best Radio Drama Scriptwriter at the State Radio Awards. It was launched by the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) and aired on national radio.