Media rights groups mulling legal action against AG’s behaviour

Urges NPP Govt. to setup Independent Prosecution Office as promised in NPP Election Manifesto

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana  

Sri Lankan media rights groups are mulling to resort to legal action against the behaviour of the Attorney General with regards to the Lasantha Wickrematunge murder case and propose the government to set up an Independent Prosecution Office, an NPP election manifesto promise, the Daily Mirror learns.  

Representatives of media rights groups said they will have a serious discussion to ‘go for the next step’ of filing legal action against the Attorney General’s Department for issuing a letter to the CID stating its non-intention of pursuing further legal action against three key suspects of the Lasantha murder, thus causing much stir in the public domain and grave injustice to Lasantha’s family.  

Journalists, media activists and civil society operatives in large numbers gathered outside the AG’s Department office in Hulftsdorp yesterday at noon to register its protest and a group of representatives was given an opportunity to enter the premises and handover a missive, which was accepted by a senior state counsel.  

President of Young Journalists Association – Sri Lanka (YJA-SL) Tharindu Jayawardena told the Daily Mirror three persons including himself and late Lasantha’s brother Lal Wickrematunge were allowed to enter the premises.  

Upon inquiry why such a letter was issued to the CID by the AG, they have reportedly been responded by Senior State Counsel Kanishka Rajakaruna that “We are not bound to respond to victims or citizens. If anyone wishes, could seek legal intervention,” Jayawardena said.  

“We demand the present government to lay blueprints for the establishment of an Independent Prosecution Office expeditiously, which was one of the policies proposed in the National People’s Power election manifesto. This will bring absolute justice to the victims in future incidents similar to that of the Lasantha murder,” Jayawardena said.  

Meanwhile, Secretary Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) Ranga Bandaranayake told the Daily Mirror that they are planning to take this issue up at their executive committee today and move a resolution to form a strong joint force with other rights groups to lobby against injustice in the media.  

Secretary Free Media Movement Hana Ibrahim told the Daily Mirror they are anxiously waiting for the response of the Director Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for the letter sent by the AG, as they have done ‘much work’ into Lasantha murder probe that may go down the drain if further legal action against three key suspects was abandoned by the AG.