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Journo Manjula Samarasekara to be arrested?

31 Aug 2022

  • Digital Media Movement complains to HRCSL over imminent arrest
BY Dinitha Rathnayake    The imminent arrest of journalist Manjula Samarasekara is to take place as preparations to arrest him are purportedly underway, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning, Samarasekara said that a clear indication of the Police attempting to embarrass him as another step in the current Government’s repression campaign has been revealed through a news item published on a certain print media website on 24 August.  According to it, Samarasekara is expected to be appointed as the Media Co-ordinator of an organisation called the “National Centre for the Struggle” and is a close associate of a powerful politician who is involved in active politics. It is also mentioned that Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon has issued orders to higher officials of the Central Division of Colombo in this regard. Samarasekara also said that it is clear that the Government wants to portray him as an anti-Government activist. Meanwhile, the Digital Media Movement claimed that it too has come to know from a very reliable source that there is an attempt to arrest Samarasekara, who is also a member of the movement. The movement has also sent a written notification to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) regarding the matter. “Samarasekara, who has not been involved in any illegal activities during the struggle and as a digital journalist and an active member of the struggle, is a peaceful, law-abiding protestor and activist who believed that he could fight through street protests as well as the at the negotiation table. Samarasekara is also the Founding President of the ‘Sarvapaakshika Aragalakaruwo’ (All-Party Activists of the Struggle) organisation, which started negotiations with Opposition political parties in order to achieve the goals of the struggle. It is a serious situation to try to suppress people like Samarasekara, who used the right of speech and expression, which is a fundamental, Constitutional right, within certain limits,” the letter stated.


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