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PM asks for report from IGP: Who kept journalists out of the Matara Magistrate’s Court?
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Journalists barred from entering the premises. Pic by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara to probe last Thursday’s incident where journalists covering the arrest of former minister Basil Rajapaksa were allegedly obstructed from carrying out their duties.
The alleged incident relates to journalists being barred from entering the premises of the Matara Magistrate’s Court when Mr. Rajapaksa was produced before the Magistrate.
Journalists at the scene alleged that police had prevented them from entering the court premises and covering the proceedings when the former minister was produced before court by the Police Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) after he was arrested in Colombo.
Although officers had initially claimed that the Magistrate had ordered that journalists be prevented from entering the court complex, it had later transpired that no such order had been given.
Journalists claim police had obstructed them on the orders of the Akuressa Superintendent of Police.
Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) of the Southern Province, Chandana Wickramaratne, has already called for a report regarding the alleged incident.