Weerasekera says attack on Chamuditha exploited by anti-national forces

Premadasa: SJB has never betrayed the country

By Saman Indrajith

Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd) Sarath Weerasekara called on the SJB in parliament yesterday not to undermine national interest for petty political gains.

 Responding to a question raised by SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Minister said that the recent attack on the house of TV journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama was being used by anti-national forces in view of the UNHRC session in Geneva.

The Minister said that a report has been called from the State Intelligence Service (SIS) to ascertain whether there was any security threat to Samarawickrama.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security has sought guidance and advice from the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority to provide security to Samarawickrama in accordance with the order issued by the Piliyandala Magistrate’s Court.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that no steps were taken to provide security to Samarawickrama in accordance with the court order. Some police personnel were assigned at Samarawickrama’s residence on Monday night after the government had come to know that he would raise this issue in the House yesterday.

Minister Weerasekara said some police personnel had been assigned as per the directives from the Victims and Witnesses Protection Authority on providing security to Samarawickrama as per the court order.

Minister Weerasekara said police mobile patrols had been deployed in the area and a police patrol book was also placed at the gate of Samarawickrama’s house for a long time now and that police had visited his house around midnight on the day of the incident.

Minister Weerasekera said that the CCTV footage taken from 92 cameras were being scrutinized and some footage which are unclear, were sent to the Moratuwa University for intense scrutinizing.

The Minister said the Opposition Leader was attempting to make allegations regarding media freedom to meet political ends ahead of UNHRC sessions in Geneva. “You were a member of the former government which sponsored UN resolutions against this country,” the Minister said.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that SJB had never betrayed the country.