Journalists barred

30 December 2010 06:41 am Views - 4468

Ten local journalists including a BBC correspondent were refused access to the Boosa detention camp this morning where the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) met with detainees.

The journalists had visited the camp on the invitation of the LLRC and had received permission from the head of the Media Center for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle who had permitted the visit.

However when the journalist arrived at the camp they were denied access by security personnel. At the camp when the journalists contacted LLRC Secretary, S.B Athugoda, he said that the journalists needed MOD ( Ministry of Defence) clearance. A Daily Mirror journalist who visited the camp said that a TID official said that the journalists should have received permission from the DIG of the TID or the IGP. However the journalists did not receive access. (OJ and RA)

Click here to view Images