Police says Siyarata Web Journalist Sujeewa Gamage arrested for making a false complaint of an abduction and torture. Police Spokesman Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ajith Rohana said the journalist has confessed that he had filed a false complaint.
The journalist had claimed that he had been abducted by an unidentified group in Mirigama around 07am on 10 March and had been tortured over a data chip, while he had later been released near Maligawatte around 2pm on the same day.
DIG Ajith Rohana said the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has obtained CCTV footage of the man traveling in the train from Mirigama to Dematagoda at the time he claimed he was released in Maligawatte.
He said CCTV footage has also been obtained of the journalist thereafter visiting the office of Chathura Senaratne, the son of former Minister Rajitha Senaratne in Thimbirigasyaya.
Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne is also reported to have visited the journalist, who had remained at Chathura’s office for three hours, after which he was admitted to the Colombo national Hospital.
DIG Ajith Rohana said the injuries sustained in the hands of the journalist had been caused by him using an object at his home in Dambadeniya, on the night before the alleged abduction. The CCD has seized the object used by the journalist.
Investigations by the CCD and the Mirigama Police have confirmed that the journalist had made a false complaint over the abduction.
The Police Spokesman said the CCD will record statements from both Rajitha and Chathura Senaratne in connection to the incident.
