Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Media Spokesperson parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran has requested the Election Commission and the Inspector General of Police to investigate into a news report published by three newspapers.
Derana Aruna on 12th November, Ceylon Today and Mawbima on 13th November have published news reports claiming that MP Sumanthiran has made a statement to the effect that the “Tamil people should vote for Sajith Premadasa in order to defeat the Sinhalese people in the South.”
MP Sumanthiran has been severely criticized on social media for the purported statement.
MP Sumanthiran unequivocally denying making such a statement has said that the reports are blatant falsehood and requested through legal counsel to open a criminal investigation of an offence under Section 3 of the International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, No. 56 of 2007.
“These false reports are a propagation of racial hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, which amounts to an offence under the ICCPR Act.”
The MP requested the Election Commission and the IGP to immediately investigate the matter and take steps according to law including reporting facts to a Magistrate and apprehending those responsible.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
