Media Orgs ordered to submit unedited footage of Vijayakala’s speech to Police

UNP to hold disciplinary inquiry on the matter

By Nimanthi Ranasinghe

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday ordered electronic and print media organisations to submit all unedited version of the recordings of the controversial statement made by the former State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran to Organised Crimes Division.

Accordingly, under section 124 of the penal code, the order was given to News Editors of Rupavahini, Independent Television Network, Swarnavahini, Hiru, Derana, Siyatha, Shakthi, Suriyan, TNL, and DAN TV electronic media outlets, and Lankadeepa, Divayina, Silumina, Dinamina, Mawbima, Thinakaral, Udayan, Weerakesari, Valampuri, Daily News and Daily Mirror print media outlets.

The order was given by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka, taking into consideration a case filed at the Organised Crimes Prevention Division (OCPD) stating the recordings were needed for an investigation.

The investigations under this case is being carried out based on a complaint filed by National Organiser of Sinhala Ravaya Magalkanda Sudaththa Thero and Sinhala National Organisation secretary Siyange Abeyratne Suresh Prasad stating that the statement made by the former State Minister violated the Constitution of the country. Accordingly, the investigations of the case were handed over to the OCPD under section 125 of the penal code.

Meanwhile, the United National Party yesterday appointed a three -member committee to hold a disciplinary inquiry into Vijayakala’s controversial statement.

Ministers and Senior Party Members Kabir Hashim, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Thalatha Athukorala were appointed to inquire into the statement which allegedly advocated for the reformation of the LTTE in the North.