Special unit to probe media attacks

The National Executive Council yesterday approved the formation of a special unit to investigate the attacks on the media over the past couple of years.
National Executive Council member and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the special unit will investigate the murder of journalists Lasantha Wickrematunge and Dharmeratnam Sivaram, the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda and the attacks on several other journalists and media rights activists.
“Under the previous Government no one was held responsible over these incidents. So the National Executive Council agreed on the need for a special unit to investigate these incidents and ensure justice is served,” he said.
Among the other issues discussed by the National Executive Council today was the issue over the Chief Justice and his refusal to step down.
Dissanayake said that Chief Justice Mohan Peiris has been accused of being part of an alleged coup attempt a day after the presidential elections.
The National Executive Council felt that that Chief Justice must take a stand soon on his future as a police complaint has also been filed against him over the alleged coup attempt.
The National Executive Council had also discussed constitutional reforms and the draft proposals will be submitted to all political parties in Parliament for approval. The Right to Information Act was also discussed by the National Executive Council. (Colombo Gazette)