The dramatic return of a controversial Sri Lankan journalist ends in arrest at Katunayake, reviving a long-running legal battle tied to court contempt, media freedom, and a decade of political exile.
Sandaruwan Senadheera, editor of the Lanka E News website who lived in political asylum in Britain for sixteen years, was arrested by Sri Lankan police at Katunayake Airport immediately after arriving in the country.
Authorities confirmed that Senadheera faced an outstanding arrest warrant linked to a contempt of court allegation. The case stems from the publication of photographs of suspects connected to the attack on former Rivira newspaper editor Upali Tennakoon before an official identification parade.
In November 2016, Gampaha Chief Magistrate Kavindya Nanayakkara issued an arrest warrant through Interpol over the matter. Former Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa also told Parliament that international police assistance would be used to arrest the editor for allegedly insulting the judiciary.
Senadheera had fled Sri Lanka after the Lanka e News office was burned in 2010 and journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda disappeared.
