Friday, January 29, 2010

CID RAIDS "LANKA IRIDA" OFFICE: SEEKS STATEMENT FROM THE EDITOR



A group of officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)has raided "Lanka Irida" news paper office short while ago. They have informed the newspaper staff that they need to record a statement from the Chief Editor of the paper, Chandana Sirimalwatte.

On Thursday (28), addressing a media conference in Colombo, the leader of the People's Liberation Front (JVP) stated that the Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is also the brother of Prsident Mahinda Rajapaksa, has threatened him over the phone saying "I will set your Lanka newspaper on fire – be warned." Responding to the allegations, the Defence Secretary denied threatening the JVP leader but admitted that he made the call to 'clarify certain matters'. The latest incident comes in the aftermath of the above accusations.


"Lanka Irida", a newspaper close to the JVP, openly campaigned for President rajapaksa's rival candidate during the presidential election. Intending to create a state of fear and to silence dissenting views, the CID raided the "Lanka" office in last September and again later in October, the editor of the paper, Chandana Sirimalwatte, was arrested and questioned.

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