Recording of confidential conversations a matter for concern – Media Minister

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Cabinet spokesperson and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Thursday (17) told the post-cabinet media briefing the recording of confidential conversations between senior officials was a matter for concern. The Minister acknowledged the need to look into the matter.

The cabinet spokesperson said so when The Island asked whether the government felt the need for legislation to prevent releasing of confidential conversations. The Island sought the government

response to former head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena

releasing a conversation he had with former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando after the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.

Asked whether the government could introduce new laws in that regard to prevent the leaking of audio

clips and to categorize such actions a punishable offense, Minister Rambukwella said the crux of the

matter was whether such revelations were admissible before the courts of law.

The minister refrained from commenting on The Island reference to the then UNP MP Ranjan

Ramanayake’s (now Gampaha District Samagi Jana Balavegaya member) collection of conversations with various persons, including UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and audio clips of Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya in the public domain.

Minister Rambukwella said that he, too, observed releasing of audio clips before Presidential

Commission of Inquiry (P CoI). Senior DIG Jayawardena said that he recorded conversations as he

wanted to protect the reputation of the SIS.