FMM condemns summoning of Editor to CID

The Free Media Movement (FMM) has condemned the summoning of the Editor-in-Chief of the Aruna newspaper, Mahinda Ileperuma, to the CID, to record a statement regarding a news article published in the paper.

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Issuing a statement, the Free Media Movement also called for the Parliamentary Privileges Act not to be used as a weapon of media repression.

The FMM full statement is as follows: "The Parliamentary Privileges Act is a weapon of media repression. Summoning Mahinda Ileperuma to the police is wrong.

"The Free Media Movement has long demanded the abolition of the Parliamentary Privileges Act, which has been used during past administrations to intimidate and suppress journalists.

"In this context, it is deeply concerning that the present government, led by a political movement that once took to the streets against such repressive laws, is now attempting to intimidate, or suppress journalists, by using the Parliamentary Privileges Act.

"The latest incident reported is the summoning of Aruna newspaper Editor Mahinda Ileperuma to the police to record a statement. This follows a report published in