Why weren’t Rajpal’s attackers quizzed? – UPFA Parliamentarian

Lakbimanews Chief Editor
Rajpal Abeynayake
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UPFA’s Kurunegala district MP Tharanath Basnayake bringing an
adjournment motion in Parliament on Friday queried as to why the
attackers of Lakbima News Chief Editor Rajpal Abeynayake were not taken
in for questioning.
“Attorney-at-Law and Editor of Lakbima News, Rajpal Abeynayake, had
come under a goon attack threatening his media activities at a meeting
of lawyers on December 3 at a hotel in Colombo.
The law had not been enforced and no arrests have been made so far in
regard to this incident despite a complaint being made”, the MP told
Parliament.
The motion was seconded by UPFA Colombo District MP Thilanga
Sumathipala. “We condemn this attack on Editor Rajpal Abeynayake.
Therefore, it is necessary to take action with immediate effect to
bring the culprits to book,” he said.
Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that
despite political opinion or other policies which had been upheld by
journalists, they should have freedom to work independently.
He said that the Government was bound to safeguard the rights of
journalists.
He recalled the dark era of the UNP regime and added that a number of
journalists had been attacked and murdered during the 1977-1994 as there
was no freedom of expression during that period. Meanwhile, on Thursday,
Attorney-at-Law Asoka Samararatne, the suspect in the alleged attack on
Lakbima News Editor, appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate and
Additional District Judge Lanka Jayaratne.
The judge, while granting bail, directed the suspect to make a
statement to the Kollupitiya police, which is conducting
investigations.On an application by President’s Counsel CR de Silva who
appeared with several other Attorneys-at-Law for Attorney Asoka
Samararatne, the judge granted surety bail in Rs. 25,000.
The Judge said that this matter should be sent to the Conciliation
Board for an inquiry.
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