Court revokes sealing of Lanka office

The court order to seal the offices of the Lanka newspaper has been revoked by the Gangodawila magistrate this afternoon, says the publication’s management. The office at Delkanda in Nugegoda was sealed on an order delivered by the same court last Saturday.

The sealing followed allegations of threats to national security due to an article published in a special edition of the paper.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sealed the office last Saturday (Jan. 30) on a court order pending the completion of investigations. Court had directed that the matter would be taken up today (Monday) where both parties would be present.

Lawyers appearing for the Lanka newspaper had told court that the move had violated the freedom of expression and the public’s need to know facts.

Court has observed that the said article had appeared in the special edition of Lanka on January 17. However no threat had been reported due to the publication, court had stated, according to the newspaper’s management.