Sri Lankan newspaper editor questioned by CID

Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today questioned Saman Wagaarachchi, the editor-in-chief of Sinhala daily The Lakbima over an incident of defaming Ayoma Rajapaksa, the wife of the secretary of the Ministry of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The newspaper carried a photo on April 07 on page 8 in which the Chairman of the Sewa Vanitha Unit of the Defense Ministry Ayoma Rajapaksa was depicted buying goods at a New Year fair of the Civil Defense Department.

The caption of the photo carried a title 'They aren't fake money, aren't they?'

The newspaper apologized the following day to Ms. Rajapaksa and the Civil Defense Department. The apology was posted on the front page today.

The police media spokesman said that the editor-in-chief Saman Wagaarachchi was questioned for three hours and a statement was recorded.