Media grills Keheliya on Prageeth

Colombo Gazette: The media yesterday grilled Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on the statement made in Parliament recently by Government Member of Parliament (MP) Arundika Fernando on missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

When asked what the Government position is on that statement, the Minister said that similar statements had been made before as well. MP Arundika Fernando had told Parliament that the journalist is in France and not missing as claimed by his family. Minister Rambukwella, addressing the weekly cabinet press briefing, said that under Parliament privileges the MP cannot be questioned by the CID if he does not want to talk.

“Investigations are going on. Investigating is the job of the law enforcing groups. A member of parliament can say he has met him, he has seen him in France. He has the right to inform somebody or the right to keep quiet,” the Minister said.

Rambukwella said that he had asked Arundika Fernando about the statement he made and where he saw Eknaligoda. The Minister said that the MP had responded by saying he saw him somewhere in France but could not remember exactly where.