3 JVP journalists released on bail

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 September 2009, 06:13 GMT]
The three journalists working in “Lanka” news paper run by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) were released on cash and surety bail Tuesday by Morawaka Magistrate when they were produced in court. The police did not object to the release of Journalists Ravindra Pushpakumara, Shalika Wimalasena and Daya Neththasinghe who were arrested 1 August in Deniyaya and later transferred to Colombo and held in the custody of the TID under the Emergency Regulations (ER) and Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The JVP leadership during the weekend announced that it would have to take a decision whether to continue its support to extend the State of Emergency by the parliament in view of the arrest of its journalists for allegedly trespassing into private property belonging to a prominent politician in Deniyaya.

JVP, one time ally of the government, has been supporting the extension of the State of Emergency every month in parliament after it withdrew its support to the government.

The Prime Minister is to table a motion seeking the approval to extend the State of Emergency by another month in parliament on Thursday.

The State of Emergency is in force since 12 August 2005.