Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said that he had instructed the Police to give priority to investigations into attacks against media.
The Minister made this revelation while engaging with a panel discussion at an international event on ending impunity on crimes against journalists in Colombo, on Monday.
“We have come a long way,” the Minister said, adding that some investigations into attacks on media had to be commenced under the most difficult circumstances. “There were instances when the evidence was destroyed. Some investigations had to be started many years after the incidents. But, the Police were able to make significant progress in some of the critical cases,” the Minister explained.
“Some of these cases, for instance the Prageeth Eknaligoda, have underscored the need for new laws and regulations. Measures were underway to change the legal framework allowing the law enforcement authorities to indict a criminal for murder, in the absence of the dead body of the victim. Such provisions will pave way for important developments as far as the investigations are concerned,” he added.
Addressing the same event, Editor of the Udayan newspaper Devanayagam Premananda said he had been kept in the dark about follow-up action on attacks against his newspaper. He said the Jaffna-based newspaper and its staff members had come under attack 37 times in the recent past, under the previous administration.
At this point, the Law and Order Minister immediately responded to the journalist’s request and obtained a dossier from him, which had information about attacks against the newspaper office and its staff.
The Minister then sent the dossier to the Police through Law and Order Ministry Secretary Jagath Wijeweera and informed authorities to brief him on the progress of the investigation. He also assured to keep all relevant parties updated on the follow-up action taken by the law enforcement authorities.
Nosey Parker / December 4, 2017
Certainly has got his priorities right .
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Don Stanley / December 4, 2017
What a colossal joke Bondscam Ranil’s pretty boy, Sagala, is playing on the people of Lanka. What happened to Lasantha’s murder investigation, Thajudeen. Sagala must think that we are a bunch of retards.!
What absolute spin and contempt for the people of Sri Lanka!
3 years have passed and not a single case has been tried or a criminal convicted despite reams of evidence regarding attacks on journalists. Same with all the corruption scandals of the Mahinda Jarapassa regime.
Bond scam Ranil and his pretty boy are dirt – They need to get out.
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Dinuk / December 5, 2017
First they appoint stooges like Pujith, who lacks qualifications to do an honest job. Brian drain ensures as good people leave and there is lack of meritocracy.
Then they under-fund the relevant institutions and stymie the process or investigation and thus erode and destroy institutions from within.
After destroying the institutions and hindering their work, they blame the investigators for delays! What a great game! They have done the same thing with Sri Lankan Airlines in order to sell if off and the National Survey Dept to privatize its functions..
They think the people are stupid!
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Amarasiri / December 5, 2017
Sagala, Ratnayaka, Minister of Law and Order
Are you, Sagala, Ratnayaka, Minister of Un-Law and Dis-Order?
Is it true that you withdrew the Gintota STF, so that violence and disorder can happen?
Please confirm or deny.
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Amarasiri / December 6, 2017
Sagala Ratna yaka, Minister of “Law and Order”
Tell the Truth.-says Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake,
Clashes in Gintota — I don’t agree with IGP’s statement: Sagala
http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Clashes-in-Gintota-I-don-t-agree-with-IGP-s-statement-Sagala-141635.html
Responding to a question asked in Parliament by Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake said today he was unable to agree with the IGP’s statement that the police had failed to stop the violence that erupted at Gintota recently.
“I don’t know whether the IGP made such a statement, but if he did we cannot agree with it. The police and the security forces acted with responsibility to bring the situation in Gintota under control,” the minister said.
He said as a long-term measure, an inter-religious committee would be set up in the area to maintain peace and harmony among all the ethnic and religious groups in Gintota.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dissanayake condemned the government’s move to downsize the presence of security personnel in the area, at a time when it had been disclosed that a certain political group was attempting to create trouble by spreading hatred among ethnic and religious groups.
The minister said the security measures were eased because the ground situation in Gintota had improved. He said statements had been recorded from more than 134 people on the recent violence in Gintota and that arrangements had been made to provide relief to those who were affected by the clashes.
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Park / December 4, 2017
Once again Sagala is trying to protect Rajapakses’. By taking up acts against journalists the courts will not be able to find time to deal with Mega Deal cases of Rajapakse Family. This is also a MEGA DEAL between Sagala and Rajapakse Family.
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K.Pillai / December 4, 2017
Should the Lankan Police act only after receiving instruction from the Law and Order Minister? This should be part of routine work.
Sagala unwittingly discloses that he instructs the police NOT to do anything about certain ‘other’ cases.
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Park / December 4, 2017
If President is not part of the Sagala – Rajapakse deal, then the President should remove Sagala immediately and appoint Ranjan Ramanayake as Deputy to Sagala. Alternatively President can discuss with JVP and seek the assistance of JVP to appoint Sunil Handunnetti as Deputy to Sagala. I am sure JVP will agree to this as they are keen in getting the law breakers before the courts. There is nothing wrong in an opposition member being a deputy minister.
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Jim softy / December 4, 2017
Why Police needs a politicians directions to investigate law and order break downs ?. That means, Sri lanka is a unlawful country unless the politician does not involve ?. People know how the Central Bank and banks worked. that means whole Sri lanka is a mess ?
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Jim softy / December 4, 2017
According to one news paper, Eventhe ginthota incidence happened with the knowledge of Sagala Rathnayake and the deputy minister Ruwan wijewardane ?. Apparently, he knew when STF was withdrawn from Ginthota in order to violence to begin.
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punchinilame / December 4, 2017
Listen first:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpUYOq68WQs
2004 1.Aiyathurai A. Nadesan – Journalist / 31 May
2. Kandaswamy Aiyer Balanadaraj – Writer / 16 August
3. Lanka Jayasundera – Photo journalist / 11 December
2005 4.Dharmaratnam Sivaram – Editor / 28 April
5. Kannamuttu Arsakumar – Media worker/ 29 June
6. Relangee Selvarajah – Journalist / 12 August
7. D. Selvaratnam – Media worker/ 29 August
8. Yogakumar Krishnapillai – Media Worker / 30 September
9. L. M. Faleel (Netpittimunai Faleel) – Writer / 02 December
10. K. Navaratnam – Media worker / 22 December
2006 11.Subramaniam Suhirtharajan – Journalist / 24 January
12. S. T. Gananathan – Patron, Tamil News and Information Centre / 01 February
13. Bastian George Sagayathas – Media worker / 03 May
14. Rajaratnam Ranjith Kumar – Media worker / 03 May
15. Sampath Lakmal de Silva – Journalist / 02 July – killed by ArmyIntelligence
16. Mariadasan Manojanraj – Media worker / 01 August
17. Pathmanathan Vismananthan – Singer and musician / 02 August
18. Sathasivam Baskaran – Media worker / 15 August
19. Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah – Media owner / 20 August
2007 20.. Raveendran – Media worker / 12 February
21. Subramaniam Ramachandran – Media personnel / 15 February
22. Chandrabose Suthakar – Journalist / 16 April
23. Selvarasah Rajeevarman – Journalist / 29 April
24. Sahadevan Neelakshan – Journalist / 01 August
25. Anthonypillai Sherin Siththiranjan – Media worker / 05 November
26. Vadivel Nimalarajah – Media worker / 17 November
27. Isaivizhi Chempian (Subhajini) – Media worker / 27 November
28. Suresh Limbiyo – Media Worker / 27 November
29. T.Tharmalingam – Media Worker / 27 November
2008 30.Paranirupesingham Devakumar – Journalist / 28 May
31. Rasmi Mohamad – Journalist / 06 October
2009 32.Lasantha Wickrematunga – Editor / 08 January
33. Punniyamurthy Sathyamurthy – Journalist / 12 February
34. Sasi Mathan – Media worker / 06 March
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Nimal / December 5, 2017
What’s this hurry….ooops I forgot that there is an election round the corner, may be Raja’s are not involved in this at all
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K.Anaga / December 7, 2017
What about the”Attacks”against the Media by the PM?
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