Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had informed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) not to summon journalists who had reported on the recently uncovered Garlic scam involving the Lanka Sathosa, Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said today.
Speaking to reporters during the weekly post-cabinet media briefing that was held today, Minister Alahapperuma said some journalists, including the editors of several newspapers, had been summoned by the CID.
He further said the Prime Minister had instructed the CID not to summon journalists with regard to the investigations into the scam.
“We apologize to the journalists. Minister Sarath Weerasekara informed that journalists will not be questioned,” Minister Alahapperuma said.
According to sources, the CID had summoned few journalists after Minister Bandula Gunawardena had complained over several comments made by a former Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Director criticizing the Minister over the recent Garlic scam.
Four officials of the state-owned enterprise Lanka Sathosa were suspended after they were found to be involved in selling imported Garlic for a lesser price to third-party sellers.
The officials were found following a tip-off by an employee of the Lanka Sathosa, who had noticed false entries in the institution’s logbook that was used to clear containers of imported essential items. (NewsWire)