Police question Dallas - Gammanpila - Madhumadhava who hoisted distorted National Flag

Police question Dallas - Gammanpila - Madhumadhava ....

who hoisted distorted National Flag

Called for media video tapes as well

At the protest carried out against questioning Gotabaya
Rajapaksa by the Bribery Commission recently by supporters of Mahinda, a National Flag had been displayed with strips representing the minorities removed from it.

According to a complaint made by one Mohammed Residi to the Ministry of Justice, for using the National Flag by changing its appearance which National Flag incidentally has been adopted by the constitution; an inquiry is being conducted. After the media pointed out this mistake, a number of politicians had spoken accepting the blame and tendered their apologies, while some had said that an NGO group unknown to them had come there and had distributed these flags. Since there are factors in this statement made to the media which warrants an investigation about it, the judiciary instructed the police to call for explanation from Mp Dallas Alahapperuma, PC member Udaya Gammanpila and Municipal Council member Madhumadhava Aravinda in the next few days.

The police later informed courts that though efforts were taken to secure statements from the said parliamentarians because the said parties had been away from their homes it had not been possible. Chief Magistrate, Mr. Gihan Pilapitiya instructed news directors of 7 electronic media institutions to submit unedited video footage of news broadcasts containing statements expressed by them in respect of the National Flag so distorted.

Display of similar distorted National Flags were seen being exhibited prior to this at a ceremony conducted near the Dalada Maligawa, at a meeting where former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa presided and also at the protest held outside the parliament against the issue of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa being called to the Bribery Commission. As such, all complaints in that regard are to be heard in courts on May 8th.