By Sandun A Jayasekera  

Mass Media Minister and Co-Cabinet Spokesman, Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday expressed his regret and disappointment over the alleged summoning of journalists of two leading national papers to record statements on a news report published on the ‘Garlic scam’.  

Responding to a journalist, he told the weekly Cabinet news briefing yesterday that he would never condone the summoning of journalists to the CID on an issue related to an act related to journalism.  

“I got to know about this incident from a Whatsapp message and from Daily Lankadeepa and Island Newspaper. The two journalists, the Editor in Chief of the ‘Daily Lankadeepa’, Mr. Siri Ranasinghe and News Editor of The Island’ Shamindra Ferdinando who have been dragged into this, are highly respected and experienced senior journalists. I would like to express my deep regret to the two if any pain of mind caused to them,” Minister Alahapperuma said.  

He said he spoke to Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retired) Sarath Weerasekara and Trade Minister who has lodged a complaint with the CID on the ‘Garlic scam’ over the issue and that there will be no inconvenience caused to journalists hereafter.  

The journalists should not have been summoned to the CID under any circumstances and I unequivocally dismiss if they were subjected to any inconvenience,” Minister Alahapperuma added.

• The two journalists, the Editor in Chief of the ‘Daily Lankadeepa’, Mr.  Siri Ranasinghe and News Editor of The Island’ Shamindra Ferdinando who  have been dragged into this, are highly respected and experienced senior  journalists
• I would like to express my deep regret to the two if any pain of mind caused to them