Speaker says not forced to make statement on Noyahr incident

Tuesday, 21 August 2018 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said he was not forced to make a statement to the police on the abduction and assault of journalist Keith Noyahr.

In a media statement, Jayasuriya said that he had given the statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) as they had a court order. Jayasuriya said that, as someone who follows the law, he agreed to make a statement to the CID after he was given notice to do so by the CID through court.

The Speaker had been questioned by the CID in May as he had been in touch with then President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the incident.

Last week, the CID questioned former President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the assault on journalist Keith Noyahr.

Rajapaksa was questioned at his Colombo residence in Wijerama. The CID had informed Rajapaksa that they were told Keith Noyahr was released by his abductors after current Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and The Nation newspaper’s then Editor Lalith Alahakoon had telephoned Rajapaksa following the abduction.

The former President however said that he could not recall receiving a telephone call from Jayasuriya at the time.

Noyahr was abducted in May 2008 and was severely assaulted before being set free.

The former Associate Editor of The Nation newspaper fled the country with his family following the incident, fearing for his life. (Colombo Gazette)

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