Media Minister apologises over CID summoning journalists on Garlic scam

Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma today apologised over a directive of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to summon Editors and senior journalists to record statements over the fraud of garlic containers at the Lanka Sathosa.

Mr Alahapperuma addressing the weekly post cabinet news conference said that he had been informed about the CID actions and that was unwarranted.

He said that the matter was brought up with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa too. "The CID will not be questioning these Editors and journalists", he said. 

Mr Alhapperuma said that Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena in his complaint to the CID had not made any complaint against journalists and only wanted the Garlic fraud investigated.

The Minister was referring to the fraud where some officials from Lanka Sathosa had acquired two containers of Garlic from the Port and sold it to  trader at Rs 135 per kilo and repurchased it to the Sathosa at Rs 435 per kg.