After sixteen years, upon arriving in Sri Lanka, the LankaEnews editor was arrested for an old case.

Mr. Don Pradeep Sandaruwan Senadheera, editor of the Lanka e-News website and a veteran journalist, was arrested yesterday (11) afternoon at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake. He, a 64-year-old dual citizen, was arrested by immigration officials upon his arrival in the island around 1:25 PM on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-504 from London, England.

This arrest was made based on a travel ban imposed due to case No. 294/9, which is currently being heard at the Gampaha Magistrate's Court, and it is reported to be related to a legal matter filed during previous governments. After being handed over to the Katunayake Airport Police, he was scheduled to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Fort, Colombo, for further investigations.

Mr. Senadheera, who had been seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom for nearly sixteen years, had to leave the country due to fatal threats he faced during the past Rajapaksa regime. He left the country for his safety amidst severe repressive incidents, particularly the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda and the arson attack on the Lanka e-News institution on January 30, 2011. Even while abroad, he continuously advocated for democracy in Sri Lanka through the Lanka e-News network, and he was a strong ideological supporter of the National People's Power (NPP) in forming the current government.

The Internet Media Activism (IMA) has issued an official statement expressing its deep regret and protest regarding his sudden arrest, focusing on democracy and media freedom. The organization points out that this incident has once again raised a reasonable suspicion among the country's media community as to whether the media suppression and political retaliations of the past have resumed. They further emphasized that it is a primary responsibility of the current government to dispel the suspicion and fear that have arisen.

The Internet Media Activism (IMA) strongly urges the authorities and the police that the government must take full responsibility for ensuring the safety of Mr. Sandaruwan Senadheera. They demand that any legal action taken against him must be free from political retaliation and should be a transparent and fair legal process. Furthermore, the statement mentions that the government's promises to protect the professional freedom of journalists and the right to freedom of expression must be practically fulfilled. Stating that such actions, reminiscent of a dark era when journalists were hunted, pose a severe threat to democracy, the organization strongly urges the government and relevant authorities to intervene immediately in this issue and ensure justice.