Wediwardena introduced Prageeth in France- Arundika
FRIDAY, 07 JUNE 2013
Government MP Arundika Fernando who dropped a bombshell in parliament stating that missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda was living in France, came up with more revelations today saying that the missing journalist was introduced to him by another media personnel Manjula Wediwardene in France recently.Mr. Fernando who raised a privilege issue in Parliament today said Mr. Wediwardene introduced a bald headed man as Eknaligoda during his recent visit to France. He said this person slipped away without talking to him.
He said Eknaligoda had been among those who had come to sabotage a pro Sri Lankan protest in Geneva recently. Mr Fernando said Eknaligoda had come with journalist Sunanda Deshapriya who had turned up wearing a turban.
“ Such persons who had gone against their motherland should be brought back to Sri Lanka in the same way they fled the country even if they are being held there by certain organizations or individuals,” he said adding that intelligence units is currently working on it within a legal framework.
Mr. Fernando who hit out at Eknaligoda’s wife Sandya Eknaligoda said she had made a statement blaming the government for her husband’s disappearance. He said Ms. Eknaligoda should have met him to find out more information if she really loved her husband. “It is a shame on her to become a cat’s paw of certain people and issue various statements,” Mr. Fernando said.
He also said Ms. Eknaligoda had made it clear that she was aware of her husband’s whereabouts from the way she behaved. Mr. Fernando therefore said she had acted in an unpatriotic manner.
Govt MP who says he saw Prageeth in France is absent-minded now
Media grills Keheliya on Prageeth (Audio)
The media today grilled Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on the statement made in parliament yesterday by government 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 yesterday 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. Investigations 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 MP 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. (Colombo Gazette)
