Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officials, acting on a court order yesterday (June 29) sealed an office in Rajagiriya where two websites “involved in propagating false and unethical news on Sri Lanka” were being operated from, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

These two websites were continuously involved in publishing false and unethical news about celebrities and popular personalities, misleading the international and local communities, a statement issued by Director-General of MCNS Lakshman Hulugalle stated today.

According to a Supreme Court ruling all websites operating from Sri Lanka should be registered with relevant authorities. The Media Ministry is currently registering websites and most websites have complied with the court order have registered, it said.

The statement added that certain websites, ignoring the Supreme Court order, are trying to bring disrepute and shame on the country and the people by propagating false and distorted news.

“The two websites have operated disregarding a legal order issued by the highest legal body,” it said.

“The CID officials raided the office after a court order and have found that these two websites were directly engaged in propagating false and distorted news. Further investigations are continuing.”

The Media Centre for National Security further alleged that websites operated by certain quarters with vested interests “are trying to bring disgrace to the country and the people,” especially at a time when the country is undergoing a period of social and economic revival.

Seven media organisations, including the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, condemned the closure of the Lanka Mirror and Lanka X News offices located within the same building in Rajagiriya.

“A group of 25 officers from the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sealed the offices and nine employees were arrested,” the media organisations had said in a joint statement.

“We condemn this deadly assault on media freedom.”