Govt trying to stifle media freedom, says Opposition Leader

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa accused the National People’s Power (NPP) government of attempting to suppress media freedom after the Editor-in-Chief of the Aruna newspaper, Mahinda Illeperuma, was summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department for questioni

In a post on X, Premadasa condemned the move, saying the government’s decision to involve the CID over a report on police clearance procedures marked a troubling shift in its approach to press freedom.

Premadasa said the administration of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, which had “championed unbridled media freedom” while in opposition, was now taking steps to question newspaper editors over their reporting.

“I reiterate what I said in Parliament. Two specific examples of the requirement for the chairman of the civil security committees to give their approval to obtain police security clearance certificates are the factual truth,” he said in his post.

“Despite that, the AKD administration that championed unbridled media freedom while in opposition has taken the step of taking newspaper editors to the CID. This is a clear attempt to stifle media freedom. I strongly condemn this despicable act,” he added.