Namal Rajapaksa: CID Summons of Aruna Editor a Threat to Press Freedom

MP Namal Rajapaksa has condemned the recent summoning of Mahinda Ileperuma, Editor-in-Chief of the Aruna newspaper, to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), describing it as an act of media suppression and a warning to journalists nationwide.

In a statement, Rajapaksa expressed strong disapproval of what he termed an effort by political actors-who claim to oppose repressive laws—to use the CID as a tool to intimidate the press.The summons was issued in connection with a news report published under Ileperuma’s editorship, which claimed that, in addition to a Grama Niladhari certificate, a certificate from the Chairman of the Public Security Committee was also required to obtain police reports.

Rajapaksa emphasized that disputes over press content should first be addressed through established channels, such as filing a complaint with the Sri Lanka Press Council or referring the matter to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee. By bypassing these procedures, he said, the government is demonstrating its readiness to suppress independent journalism.The MP reiterated his condemnation of media intimidation, calling it “deeply regrettable” that the CID is being used to enforce narrow political objectives at the expense of press freedom.