A team of officers of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today visited the office of local media Lankadeepa which is situated in Hunupitiya, Colombo.
The CID team had arrived at the office to record statements from the editor and few other journalists of the media institution who had reported claims made by the former Director of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Thushan Gunawardena.
Lankadeepa had reported allegations levelled by Gunawardena on malpractices involving the state-owned enterprise, Lanka Sathosa, which led to authorities uncovering a Garlic scam.
However, as the Editor had informed the CID that they were not prepared to record a statement today, the CID team had left the premises immediately after.
The CID team has reportedly informed the group to report to the Department on another day, Lankadeepa said.
Earlier today, Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma told reporters that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had informed the CID not to summon journalists who had reported on the recently uncovered Garlic scam involving the Lanka Sathosa.
Minister Alahapperuma said some journalists, including the editors of several newspapers, had been summoned by the CID.
He further said the Prime Minister had instructed the CID not to summon journalists with regard to the investigations into the scam.
“We apologize to the journalists. Minister Sarath Weerasekara informed that journalists will not be questioned,” Minister Alahapperuma said.
According to sources, the CID had summoned few journalists after Minister Bandula Gunawardena had complained over several comments made by the former CAA Director criticizing the Minister over the Garlic scam.
Four officials of the state-owned enterprise Lanka Sathosa were suspended after they were found to be involved in selling imported Garlic for a lesser price to third-party sellers.
The officials were found following a tip-off by an employee of the Lanka Sathosa, who had noticed false entries in the institution’s logbook that was used to clear containers of imported essential items. (NewsWire)
