Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the government of attempting to stifle media freedom.
Taking to ‘X’, he condemned the government over the summoning of the Editor-in-Chief of the Aruna newspaper, Mahinda Illeperuma, by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning over a report on police clearance procedures.
MP Premadasa stated that the Anura Kumara Dissanayake administration, which had championed unbridled media freedom while in opposition, has taken the step of referring newspaper editors to the CID.
“I reiterate what I said in parliament. 2 specific examples of the requirement for the chairman of the civil security committees to give their approval to obtain police security clearance certificates are the factual truth. Despite that the AKD administration that championed unbridled media freedom while in opposition has taken the step of taking newspaper editors to the CID. This is a clear attempt to stifle media freedom. I strongly condemn this despicable act,” he added. (Newswire)