15 February 2022 06:03 pm Views - 1715
The government is trying to introduce 'white van culture' once again to suppress the social media activists and critics who express their opinions against the government by using the CID and state powers, Lawyers for National Peoples' Power (NPP) said today.
Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala told a news conference that the suppression was exerted by the government as it has come under heavy criticism due to its failure in every sector.
He said this suppression on freedom of speech would endanger the democratic values and added that this was not a good sign.
Watagala said egg hurling attack on JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, arrest of Civil activist Shehan Malaka Gamage and attack on journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema could be seen as a chain of events and that they were targeted for expressing their opinion against the government.
"Freedom of expression is ensured in the Constitution. It is against the law to arrest Civil activist Shehan Malaka Gamage. We doubt if the 'white van culture' is raising its ugly head once again," he said.(Ajith Siriwardana)