The new government is reorganizing the way information is provided to the Media which is related to Police and security matters, officials told RepublicNext on Friday.
The Police Media Division based out of Police Headquarters in Colombo has not functioned since Monday, and today the officers on duty said they were “not providing information for a few days.”
The Police Commission has confirmed that SSP Ruwan Gunesekara, who was the Spokesman for the police and a well-known public figure, has been transferred as Director Legal of the police department.
The new entity will be formed under the Ministry of Defense these officials said.
The Army Spokesman Major General Sumith Atapattu said a decision has been taken to set up a new center and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will take the final decision in this regard on his return from India.
The center will include representation from the police and it is understood that DIG Ajith Rohana the former Police spokesman is tipped to join the team.
The Police Media division was created during the regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and continued under President Maithripala Sirisena.
Media engagement with the Police department is key to the functioning of the Law and Order mechanism of the country.
In the past police officers had no restrictions in talking to reporters and centralization of the information sharing was brought in by the previous Rajapaksa administration.
During the past four years as media freedoms increased there was a free-flow of information but the Police Media Division was the key source which provided daily on-line police logs and frequent statements on important incidents and subjects.
(Republic next)