Keith Noyahr's assault probe to end within two months - Police

Investigations into the abduction and assault of journalist Keith Noyahr in 2008 is expected to end within two months, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said today (Aug 22).

Mr. Gunasekara told reporters at a press briefing that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had submitted reports on six high profile cases to the Attorney General.

These cases included the assault of Keith Noyahr, killings of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge and ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen, 17 members of an aid group in Mutur, and the abduction of eleven youths.

Meanwhile, the Police Spokesman also said that another member attached to the proscribed Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim (JMI) group has been arrested in Ampara today.

The suspect identified as Mohamed Ali alias 'Abu Ikrimah' is believed to have received training with Easter Sunday terrorist attacks mastermind Mohamed Zahran at a training camp in Nuwara Eliya.

Mr. Gunasekara noted that 16 JMI members have been arrested in Ampara this month.

Further, the police department, upon the instructions of Acting Inspector General Chandana Wickramaratne, will launch a Twitter and Facebook page for the Police Media Division.

Incidentally, this is the first occasion in which the police would be using social media to disseminate information among the public, the spokesman noted.

The Facebook Page would be named Sri Lanka Police Media Division - SLPMD while the Twitter handle would be launched as Police Media Division (PMD).

(Reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)

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