COLOMBO (News 1st); Kumara Joseph, a civilian, was summoned to appear before the CID at 9 this morning (05) in connection to a Facebook comment. 

Attorney at Law Amila Egodamahawatta, who appeared on behalf of the summoned, stated that the CID delivered an unofficial notice last Monday (31), and later personally informed the lawyers of the necessity to record statements regarding a comment posted on a Facebook post of Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini.

Kumara Joseph departed CID premises after giving a statement that lasted for five hours.

Speaking to media, he stated that the CID had questioned him of his association with His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Fr. Rohan Silva, Fr. Julian Friedrich and Fr. Cyril Gamini.

Moreover, the CID has questioned him as to whether he knows Steven Muller and Saman Kapila from Australia as well.

However, Kumara stated that he had never made any hateful statements, and when the authorities at CID showed him the comment, it was realized that the comment was not made with any malicious intent.

Attorney at Law Manoj Rajapaksa, who also appeared at the scene, emphasized that the Government should stop the process of making the victim the accused, and questioned whether Sri Lankans are celebrating the 74th Independence in a country where there is no freedom of speech.

• Cabinet agrees to implement 13A – President
• Parliament to be prorogued from Friday (27); New Session on 8th February
• Speaker certifies Campaign Finance Bill, and Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill
• ‘My officials were threatened to sign’ – Kanchana on No-Power Cut agreement
• ‘Oldest and most complete’ mummy found in Cairo, Egypt