Daily Mirror investigative journalist writes to IGP on alleged death threats

Daily Mirror’s investigative journalist Prageeth Sampath Karunathilake has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D Wickramaratne regarding an alleged death threat received from  two security officers namely Police Sergeant Thilakaratne attached to the Ministerial Security Division and Lt. Col. Dinesh Bulathsinghala attached to the Sri Lanka Army. 

The complaint reads that a car belonging to the Sri Lanka Army was parked obstructing the road leading up to Karunathilake’s residence on May 28, 2022. The car had been parked in front of Sergeant Thilakaratne’s residence. The complaint reads that when the journalist had requested them to move the vehicle for him to reach his house, the driver had taken the vehicle forward and reversed it, in an attempt to hurt him. “Even though I knocked on the vehicle gesturing him to stop the vehicle, he repeated the same. When I questioned why he did that he scolded me. The vehicle owner’s wife also joined the driver during this argument. The driver left saying that he would return on a threatening note,” Karunathilake complained. 

“Thereafter I lodged a complaint with the Homagama Police (Complaint No. CIB 03/146/253). On two other instances the Sergeant attached to the MSD attempted to crash into my motorbike. In one instance I was travelling with my wife and during the other instance my child was travelling on the bike”.  The complaint states that Karunathilake suspects  these incidents are something more than a personal vendetta and are being executed by a hidden hand. 

The complaint explains how the Sergeant’s wife has made references to a previous accident that the complainant met with and has made remarks to the effect that he (Karunathlake) should not be spared just with a broken spine as done before, but should be eliminated. 
At that time journalist Karunathilake had been investigating on a tender, associated with boots, obtained by the Sri Lanka Army back in 2018. It was around this time that he had met with an accident. 

Referring to some recent events, the senior journalist stated that his email was blocked the day after the Daily Mirror published an article exposing the looting of treasure at the Wasgamuwa National Park; allegedly connected to the military. IT experts claimed that the email had been blocked, to ensure there is no transfer of information. Following an article written about GnanaAkka the complainant alleges that his phone had been tapped and he suspects that a third party was listening to all incoming and outgoing calls. 
Karunathilaka has been working as a journalist for over 22 years and has been writing investigative articles for Lankadeepa, Daily Mirror and other newspapers.
 He urged the IGP to ensure his safety as well as the safety of his family and to protect his right to life, right to freedom of expression and ensure that his fundamental rights are protected.   

The letter written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D Wickramaratne regarding the alleged death threat received from two security officers