23 February 2022 12:00 am Views - 90
By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera
A report has been called from the State Intelligence Services (SIS) to ascertain whether there was any security threat to journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, he said the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security has sought guidance and advice from the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority to provide security to Chamuditha in accordance with the order issued by the Piliyandala Magistrate’s Court.
The Opposition Leader questioned as to why steps were not taken to provide security to Chamuditha in accordance with the court order and said some police personnel were assigned at Chamuditha’s residence on the previous night as he was to raise this matter in Parliament yesterday.
Minister Weerasekara said some police personnel were assigned until guidance was received from the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority on providing security to him as per the court order.
He said police mobile patrols were deployed in the area and that police patrol book was also placed at the gate of Chamuditha’s house for a long time now and that police had visited his house at about 12.00 midnight on the night of the incident.
“CCTV footage taken from 92 CCTV cameras were being observed and some footage, which is unclear, has been sent to Moratuwa University for further verification,” he said.
The Minister accused the Opposition Leader of attempting to make allegations regarding media freedom to gain political ends ahead of UNHRC sessions in Geneva.
However, Mr. Premadasa said it was wrong to make such an allegation claiming that SJB had never betrayed the country.