News
Claims and counter claims over alleged abduction, torture of journalist
View(s):- CCD to record statements from former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and son Chathura over the incident
- Man at the centre of the controversy Sujeewa Gamage, attached to Siyarata, news website says he will reveal all in court
A journalist who ran a pro-United National Party (UNP) website claims that he was abducted, assaulted, and released only after a microchip was seized from him.
However, the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) which probed his complaint has declared that his assertions are false. They now want to file charges against him.
The man at the centre of the controversy is 62-year-old Sujeewa Gamage, who is attached to Siyarata, a news website.
Police also want to record statements from former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and his son Chathura over the incident. Mr Gamage is known to have worked from Chathura Senaratne’s office as well.
The Senaratne duo are due to visit the CCD office tomorrow to give their statements.
Mr Gamage’s story is that he was abducted as he was making his way to the Mirigama train station and that he was thereafter questioned and tortured by his abductors, who were allegedly looking for a microchip he had in his possession that contained some vital information. His complaint stated that the abductors eventually took him in a van and dropped him off at Maligawatte.
Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr Harsha De Silva were among those who condemned the alleged abduction after it was reported. The Free Media Movement (FMM) too issued a statement condemning the alleged abduction as a serious threat to the safety and security of journalists.
Mr Gamage’s claims have now been contradicted by the CCD which says it has uncovered CCTV footage from March 10, the day of the alleged abduction, which showed Mr Gamage getting down from the train at the Dematagoda train station and walking away, contradicting his claim that he had been abducted on the way to the Mirigama train station.
Police released the CCTV footage to the media this week. Police Spokesman Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ajith Rohana also told the media that Mr Gamage’s ‘torture’ injuries were self-inflicted.
The journalist was produced in court and released on bail. He held his own press conference on Friday where he disputed the Police Spokesman’s version of events, though he admitted to having visited Chathura Senaratne’s office in Thimbirigasyaya on the day of the alleged abduction and also meeting with Rajitha Senaratne.
Mr Gamage claimed the ‘confession’ he allegedly signed after his interrogation by the CCD was signed under duress. He refused to reveal what was in the microchip his alleged abductors were looking for or who he believes his abductors were. “I will reveal everything in court,” he assured.