Probe into Dinamina reporter’s complaint

Rohan MATHES

Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said he had ordered the Lake House Chairman to probe into the alleged complaint of Dinamina Staff Reporter Nilushi Wimalaweera, concerning her right to perform her duties and the right to information.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium in Narahenpita yesterday, Yapa said he had received a complaint from Wimalaweera, pertaining to an alleged ban on attending and reporting news at UNP media conferences.

“Every journalist enjoys the right to indulge in his/her duties of reporting news freely and independently. I have ordered for a full inquiry into the alleged ban”, the Minister said.

Fielding questions from journalists pertaining to the recent alleged assaults on journalists, Minister Yapa was of the view that necessary and appropriate action would be taken upon completion of the investigations already underway, by the proper and relevant authorities.

“We are unable to take action on baseless allegations,” the Minister said. “We would first have to ascertain beyond doubt the veracity of the alleged charges, and it is only then that we could punish the culprits,” he added.

Senior Superintendent of Police Deshabandu Tennakone addressing the media, briefly outlined and analysed the scenario in which the recent assaults of journalists, had allegedly taken place.

He said the investigations to date revealed that the incidents were more of a personal character.