The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in two press releases today (31) clarified the circumstances surrounding the arrest of two employees of Standard Newspapers Limited; Miss Munisamy Parameshwari and Mr Dushyantha Basnayake.

The Ministry said the clarifications have to be made as the two arrests were largely misinterpreted in both international and local forums as government's attempts to curtail media freedom.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Miss Parameshwari, who was a journalist attached to former local newspaper "Mavubima" the Ministry said that the arrest was made Based on intelligence received by the Special Task Force of the Sri Lanka Police.

"Miss Parameshwari was arrested on 23rd November 2006, in respect of her alleged involvement in abetting a LTTE female suicide cadre named Thambirasa Susanthi, by providing her with accommodation in Colombo. Her arrest and subsequent detention was in accordance with provisions of the Emergency Regulations", the press release said.

Commenting on Miss Parameshwari's acquittal, the press release elucidated:

"Following the completion of the investigation, the Attorney General reviewed the available material for the purpose of instituting criminal proceedings. Though there existed a volume of incriminatory material against Parameshwari, the availability of material admissible against the suspect in a court of law, was insufficient and hence the Attorney General advised the police to discharge the suspect. Accordingly, the suspect was discharged by the Magistrate on 22nd March 2007"

With regard to Mr. Basnayke's arrest , the a separate press release clarified the arrest was made on information received by the Sri Lanka Police, that Mr. Basnayake along with a terrorist suspect named Anthony Lakshmi Emil had jointly engaged in an enterprise to fund terrorist activities in Sri Lanka.

Officers of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Police arrested Dushyantha Basnayake, the Finance Director of Standard Newspapers Limited ,on 26th February 2007.

Following the arrest of the suspect, the Ministry said , that the suspect was detained in accordance with provisions of the Emergency Regulations promulgated under the Public Security Ordinance. The progress of the criminal investigation was periodically reported to the relevant Magistrate.

"On 24th April 2007, based on the existence of a prima-facie case of terrorist funding, the suspect was remanded in the custody of the Police by the Magistrate. On 15 May 2007 the suspect was enlarged on bail", the press release further said.

An investigation on the Mr.Basnayake's case is continuing.

Finally, in both Press Releases the Foreign Ministry reiterated that neither Miss Parameshwari nor Mr. Basnayake had been arrested in relation to their professional work.