Three journalists taken on suspicion - Police

Police Headquarters, Colombo has sent the following report in respect of the arrest of three journalists attached to the Lanka newspaper at Deniyaya on September 2, 2009.

On this day in question, these journalists along with cameras and video cameras, had allegedly taken photographs of the bungalow belonging to one Thusitha Ranawaka and the road leading to the bungalow at Nanagala 'A' Division near Beverly Estate, Deniyaya identifying themselves as a team conducting research work on affecting tea plants.

The inmates of this bungalow felt suspicious of their activities and had reported the matter to Deniyaya Police.

Since this bungalow is visited by VIPs the Deniyaya Police visited the scene and had arrested the three suspects.

Police also seized a video camera, an ordinary camera and three mobile phones from their possession along with the trishaw bearing No. QV 5980.

Investigations into assassination attempts on the President and Defence Secretary in the past have revealed that not only LTTE terrorists but Sinhala elements including senior Police and Army personnel too have been involved in such conspiracies.

In these circumstances, the conduct of these three journalists had aroused the strong suspicions of the investigation officers. Those officers strongly suspect that their presence there is linked to a secret plan to pose a threat to the lives of VIPs and feels that this incident needs to be further investigated.

Accordingly, they have been detained under Emergency Regulations and are being further interrogated, a Police communique states.