CCD Detains Two Journalists

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) detained two journalists last week for taking visuals and images outside the CCD office in Dematagoda.
Swarnavahini video cameraman/journalist Indika Sri Aravinda and Randiva newspaper chief photographer Sajeewa Chinthaka were detained while they were covering an incident on Wednesday.
The two were covering the move by the CCD to quiz the Randiva Editor Saman Samarakkody and News Editor Chaminda Senaratne over a death threat to Hirunika Premachandra, daughter of slain politician Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.
Aravinda and Chinthaka were taking visuals of the Randiva newspaper Editor and News Editor entering the CCD building to give their statements when CCD officers detained Aravinda and Chinthaka.
The CCD officers had said that they were given instructions to detain them for taking pictures and visuals of the CCD building.
Aravinda and Chinthaka had however explained that they were only taking visuals of the Randiva newspaper Editor and the News Editor entering the CCD office to give their statements on the Hirunika Premachandra case and that as journalists they had every right to do so.
However the CCD officers had said that they had no right to take visuals of anyone entering the CCD building.
Aravinda and Chinthaka were later detained and their equipment including mobile phones were also taken away by CCD officers.
After several minutes Aravinda demanded to speak to police spokesman Ajith Rohana. A complaint was later lodged with the police spokesman over the incident and the CCD subsequently released Aravinda and Chinthaka.
Meanwhile statements were recorded from the Randiva newspaper Editor and a journalist from the newspaper over an article which had appeared in the newspaper claiming that the life of Hirunika Premachandra was at risk.
Hirunika Premachandra had lodged a complaint with the police after the newspaper article was published.