The Sri Lanka Police Media Unit and the post of the Media Spokesman have been suspended with immediate effect from yesterday evening following an order by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara.
Highly placed police sources said the decision came following the publication of an article in an English language daily yesterday.
The article carries a verbal comment by Police Media Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara regarding an ongoing investigation on an incident relating to national security. However, the IGP has already issued a circular stating that the Police Media Spokesman should refrain from issuing verbal statements to the media.
The circular has also directed that all statements to the media should be given in writing. Police sources said the suspension of the unit and the post came following the spokesman’s failure to adhere to the guidelines issued by the circular.
Police sources said that the IGP has told top police officers that he would resume the functions of the Police media unit after necessary reforms. IGP Jayasundara has informed Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka about his directive to suspend the unit.
Jayasundara told his first media briefing after assuming duties as the IGP that there was no need for a media spokesperson for Sri Lanka Police.
However the IGP is yet to introduce a mechanism for the media to access information from Sri Lanka Police.
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