New IGP suspends police media unit for making verbal statements instead of written ones

By Norman Palihawadane-May 2, 2016, 9:58 pm 

Police Media Unit has been suspended by IGP Pujith Jayasundara with immediate effect. He gave orders to suspend the unit and initiate an investigation against its officials for speaking to the media with regard to key suspects connected to the Chavakachcheri explosive haul fleeing to India.

Reprimanding ASP Gunasekera for making comments verbally to the media the IGP had said a written statement should have been issued, sources said, adding that the IGP had claimed there had been a directive for the police media unit to issue its information in writing to media organisations.

IGP Jayasundara had ordered an investigation against the ASP and his team, the ministry sources said.

Among those arrested in connection with the Chavakachcheri explosives haul are former Trincomalee leader of the LTTE Intelligence Wing in Trincomalee Kalai Arasan alias Arivalahan, former Special Commander of the Charles Anthony Brigade Ganapathipillai Sivamurthi alias Nagulan, former Ampara District LTTE Commander Deemalasingham Arichchandran alias Ramand and an LTTE cadre identified as Damotharan Jayakanth.

The TID arrested Ram on April 24. Thalaiarasan and Nagulan were arrested on April 25 and 26, respectively.

All telephone lines of the Police Media Unit had been shut down with effect from yesterday noon.