Police get order to track phone signals

Police yesterday said that over 32 statements have been recorded in connection with the attack on the house of senior journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama in Piliyandala.

Police sources said 25 statements have been recorded by Piliyandala police while the rest have been recorded by the Kesbewa police in connection with the incident.

Police also filed facts of the incidents in Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court and obtained an order to track signals from telecommunication towers.

Police said that 60 officers have also been deployed to analyse CCTV footages with a view of identifying the culprits. Meanwhile the United Nations yesterday said that protection of journalists and activists is vital to ensure freedom of expression, transparency and accountability. UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer in a tweet said that the silencing of critical voices undermines public debate, freedom and the human rights of everyone.

“Journalists and activists play a fundamental role in ensuring a democratic society and their protection is vital to ensure freedom of expression, transparency and accountability. The silencing of critical voices, undermines public debate, freedom and the human rights of everyone,” she tweeted.