Al-Jazeera correspondent for Sri Lanka, Dinouk Colombage was grilled by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) yesterday, just weeks after Rajapaksa state-owned newspaper Editor, Rajpal Abeynayake called for his arrest.
Dinouk Colombage
Colombage’s lawyers have stated that the CID has interrogated him concerning the reports he filed to Al-Jazeera and a Twitter update he had posted on the ground situation in Aluthgama and Beruwala following the anti-Muslim clashes.
He had been questioned regarding his news sources and had been extensively grilled over how he got the number of deaths as well as other sensitive details included in his coverage. The interrogation had lasted for three hours and Colombage had even been questioned about his association with Al- Jazeera.
It has also been reported that his lawyers were not permitted to witness the questioning.
Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana has stated he was questioned by the CID due to contradictions in the number of deaths that was reported by Colombage and the official numbers released by the government.
This interrogation also occurs following a tweet put up by Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath, who condoned the recent ruling on the three Al-Jazeera journalists, which was recorded by Colombo Telegraph before he took it off.
In the aftermath of the anti-Muslim clashes that erupted in Southern Sri Lanka on June 15 and 16, several Muslim politicians have pointed out that the number of deaths has been downplayed; the official government reports claim it is only three/ But Colombage’s repors and tweets stated that it was seven and it has been confirmed by several other politicians including Azath Salley.
Park / July 8, 2014
Unlike developed Democracies, not allowing lawyers to be present when questioning shows what sort of Democracy we have in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka today is not a Democracy but a Military State.
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Estate Labourer / July 8, 2014
The government, its spokesmen, the administrators and enforcers of the law are all constantly making valiant but unsuccessful attempts to hide an elephant inside a kennel!
They will go to any lengths to suppress, minimize or distort the truth.
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Snowden Edward Asange / July 8, 2014
Well in that case.. at the last stages of the WAR against the LTTE a lot of CIVILIAN death numbers have been reported by many. including the dept of defense. why wasnt ANYONE taken into questioning? This is pure harassment of Journalists… Who the eff is Rajpal to ask for the arrest of fellow journos? the lapdog to MR N GR will have to answer one day.. yes he will be grilled and Hope NO embassy gives him a visa to claim political asylum.. when the MUSIC unfolds…
Dinouk I salute u for ur bravery.. knowing the fact that u would have to face consequences for the photography of all the carnage that you had exposed… The Defense Secretary wanted all evidence destroyed, hence he had the ARMY do the clean-up even before some Insurance agents had taken estimates of the damage to their clients.. He also didn’t want tourists from Beruwala Aluthgama N Bentota to take pictures that would be used for negative reporting of the govt THAT FAILED TO COME TO THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY but had the POLICE and STF involved in the carnage..
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gamini / July 8, 2014
What a disgrace this Police outfit is. What is important for them is downplaying the numbers of the dead and not any concern that victims have died. This MF SSP Ajith Rohana will get his just deserts after the change.
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Lapatiya / July 9, 2014
Everybody crying that there is no media freedom in our country and there is ongoing campaign asking for media freedom. Actually in my opinion there is enough media freedom in our country. We have a President who used to eat “Kiribath” and “Lunimiris” with all our Independent media Giants once in every month at Raja Gedara. Still we used to say that there is no media freedom in Sri Lanka. Now Mr. Rajpal Abenayaka Media Giant, said recently Mr. Colombage should be arrested. No white van came after him or our CID didn’t ask him to come to 4th floor. Now see Hanna Ibrahim of Colombo Today found that Sri Lanka is under Al Quaida threat and she is going publish it in coming Sunday. We didn’t hear CID summon her to the 4th floor? I just can’t understand why our media people reporting minor incidents like Aluthgama to the International media as our Sinhala Buddhist President declared it was minor incident. They have plenty of serious news but nobody interested in reporting them other than Govt. Independent media such as,
“CID grilled Gnasara” very good hote hot news, but that was not a news for our Journos. “CID Summoned Madu Masadawa Aravinda to the 4th floor” even Madu Madawa’s wife doesn’t know about this as our Journos didn’t report it. “Who will be the next Presidential candidate”, “will Wimal Weerawansa leave the Govt”, “What will happen to his 12 point demands from his President Brother”, “Why Mangala Samaraweera was not arrested for revealing top Govt.secret that Offence Secretory wearing American underwear and covering it with Sri Lankan National Flag”, “Defense Secretary denied any involvement with BBS(pvt)ltd or Galagoda Gandasara”, “Galagoda Gandasara says Offence Secretary has no hand in BBS or It’s activities” , “Army Spokesperson, Ruwan Wanigasoriya says Gotabaya Rajapaksha has no involvement with BBS”, “IGP, Mr. N.K Illangakoon says there is no provision in our law to arrest Galagoda Gandasara”, “Magistrate Thilina Gamage said Galagoda Gandasara should not call Mr. Maithree Gunaratna by his pet name “Balla””. “Sampath Pushpa Vidanapathirana and others claims that they never involved in Khurak Shaik’s murder and Gang raping his Girl Friend Victoriya and there is a conspiracy to tarnish his undisputed political carrier”, Actually they are very good news for National and International Media, but unfortunately they are not good hot news for our Journos like Mr. Dinouk Colombage. Next time at least contact Head, Presidential Media unit as they have plenty of “Athe Roles” to publish.
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Amarasiri / July 9, 2014
“Al-Jazeera correspondent for Sri Lanka, Dinouk Colombage was grilled by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) yesterday, just weeks after Rajapaksa state-owned newspaper Editor, Rajpal Abeynayake called for his arrest.”
So The Para-Sinhala want a true Sinhalese who tells the truth Behind bars.
So only those who lie, Monks, Politicians and Sinhala Buddhists can be free, giving more lies.
Those who Tell the truth will be put behind bars.
The JMO Lies, The police lies. The Govt. Editors lie. The ministers lie, the president lies. This is Sinhalese Buddha Dhammma, the curse of the land of native Veddah.
Se What the para- Sinhalese have done to the Land of Native Veddah !
Please go to South India where you came from , based on DNA facts.
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Jim softy / July 9, 2014
Muslims are killing and destroying other religions every where in the world. they are killing their own in Iraq.
Those news are negligible.
Muslims expansionism is not an issue here.
those who writes these things, sell your every thing for a few coins.
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Palayang yako! / July 9, 2014
Jim Nutty:
Were you looking in the mirror when you wrote “those who writes these things, sell your every thing for a few coins?”
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kp / July 9, 2014
…because you’re the expert on bowing down to a few coins.
Seriously, men, stop making it this easy for me to make fun of you :D
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BBS REP / July 9, 2014
The issue is not how many were killed in Aluthgama. In the land of mass killings the killings in Aluthgama as per the head of state of Sri Lanaka is ‘sulu dewal’.
The issue is reporting anything that is detrimental to the state. The Egyptians govern by intimidation and killing. Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa brothers also govern by intimidation and killing. Egypt has paved the way by jailing Al Jazeera journalists for reporting extra juditial killings in Egypt. Charitha Herath endorsed such action. So grilling Dinouk Colombage is following on the footsteps of Egypt which by the way is a Muslim country. This is why Muslim countries love our president.
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Kiafiya,Addar / July 9, 2014
The Truth of Beruwela & Aluthgama
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For years there has been friction among the Sinhalese Buddhists and Muslims ,mainly concentrated in Galle ,Beruwela and Aluthgama.
However Darga Town ,Aluthgama has always been a Muslim stronghold and many past events of attacks by the area thugs were successfully everted by the Muslim youths of the area , until the latest military styled well planned attacked was launched with the full open support of the Police and the armed forces ,the youth were in a no match situation ,however when attempts were made to set the mosque a blaze the youth stood the ground and fought back and when the gang was loosing the battle is when the forces arrived in a private vehicle in civilian clothes and shot and killed the three youths in cold blood .as soon as this happened the vehicle quietly rolled over forward toward the gang and asked them to vacate the premises immediately which was done .
How the entire operation was orchestrated, a female masseur was approached to get the first ignition started ,she visited the shop with her child and one of the staff friendly patted the boys head as a common custom in Sri Lanka ,this was enough for the accomplice in crime to ignite the flame, she made a hue and cry ,the accusation was her little son has been molested by the owner’s brother ,while the patting was done by a sales staff and not the owner’s brother.
The aim was to first eliminate one of the leading Muslim business in town ,was done with complete success .
So who were the real players behind the entire scene ? a good question ,very much like in Colombo incidents Sinhalese Buddhist Businessman with the support of the villagers ,it is time that we stop buying this lovey-dovey often parroted phrase of the cunning Sinhalese Buddhist of Oh we were living in complete harmony as one family ,this is the cover up of their integral jealousy and venom they have been harboring against the Muslims for years.
The entire operation was well coordinated by the Villagers and the ones who carried it out were ex forces and some men who are trained by the forces at the regional BBS Buddhist Police training college in Galle .
The men who were involved in the attack even knew most of the Muslim residents by name even the females by name.
These are the same men who were involved in the atrocities against the LTTE civilians and the rape and murder of the female cadres at the end of the war.
The frequent question is where was the BBS during the war? Of cause it was Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary- Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara who was then a officer in Army who was instructing the atrocities ,he was personally involved ,he is a very mentally sick man.
What is sad here is the amount of trust the innocent Muslims had been having towards their Sinhalese neighbors, it was a bit different from black July where even Sinhalese Buddhist women sat on parapet walls like basket women and pointing out Tamil homes, this time it was more sophisticated and well planned , they maintained a fake good relation with their Muslim neighbors and worked discreetly with the BBS.
The booty was shared by the neighbors too.
Muslims must wake up and unite and trust no one.
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Vibhushana / July 9, 2014
Hakeem admits 2 deaths in Parliament. Where did this guy get his 7 deaths from?
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Chandra / July 9, 2014
Many others would have been questioned. Does this man A.C. expect special privileges?
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Wickramasiri / July 9, 2014
Muslims must make up their minds here and now not to vote for Mahinda Rajapaksa or any of his family, or the PA and affiliated parties. Just do it and show what you feel, the hurt and the despair of the innocent. You cannot support an unprincipled racist. That is provided we have elections again!
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Don / July 9, 2014
Whether it is BBC, Al Jazeera or CNN, they should report the facts. When the death toll at Alutgama/Beruwela was 3, he should not have multiplied it by another 3 and reported it as 9, knowing very well that it is a lie. If his facts are correct he should give the names of the other 6 people who died to the CID. There is nothing wrong with CID questioning him. Just because he is a journalist he cannot report false news against the country for Dollars, and get away with it. Even if Police does not act against him there will be a time when he will get the punishment from the readers for betraying the country.
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Peace Lover / July 10, 2014
THEN WHAT ABOUT ‘ZERO CASUALITIES’ report by Rupavahini and lankapuwath? how are you going to handle that
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Lankan / July 10, 2014
Mr. Colombage
You have been brave enough to tell the truth and follow the journalistic ethics.
You were interviewed by the CID on the orders of Gothabaya.
Please continue with your open and honest service to the nation.
But please look after your safety as we do not know what Gothabaya is planning against you now.
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Norman Waidyaratne / July 15, 2014
Congratulations to CT for highlighting
this case. However, I do not agree with
this man’s way of doing journalism.
One time, there was wild horse (or a pony)
and a cow boy. They teamed up to bring
“new journalism” in Sri Lanka through the
Sunday Leader.
The horse or the pony was sent in a container
to Seattle, United States after the animal
began to bark at dogs.The cow boy is in Sri
Lanka not knowing what to do.
He should be more careful with his side arms.
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