Private web news outlet raided

Colombo (News 1st): A Private web news outlet, News Hub which is located in Delkanda was inspected this morning (November 26). The staff has been present at the time of the inspection and following the inspection, the Police had taken steps to record statements from members of the staff before they left the premises. UNP member of Maharagama Urban Council, Dhanusha Ramanayake expressing his views regarding the matter noted that they have hired many institutions to perform various tasks during the Presidential Election media coverage. He added that today 10 Police Officers including two chief inspectors and one female inspector conducted an immediate raid at one media institution which served their Presidential Election campaign. Ramanayake noted that along with those officials, 4 more civil officials were present at the raid and the valid time period of the warrant issued for this inspection is dated, the 24th of November of 2018 to 08th of December 2018. He said according to that, the officials have no right to carry out an inspection at this establishment. The UNP Member went onto note that the most interesting fact is that, a person and a van attached to a fascist, mud-slinging media institution located nearby to this establishment was spotted at the scene. He stressed that all of this is linked sequentially and no information has been given to the party which made this complaint. He added that this is a clear sign of intimidation and media suppression. When News 1st inquired SSP Ruwan Gunasekara regarding this incident, he said that the inspection was carried out on the warrant that was issued based on the information received on printing documents that stir and instill hate and unrest among various factions. However, adding further, SSP Ruwan Gunasekara said that no such documents were found at the establishment during the inspection.