Former Sirasa journalist Eureka De Silva, who is currently residing in Australia, is facing imminent arrest upon her return to the country, informed police sources confirmed.

De Silva had recently shared a Facebook post claiming that unidentified COVID19 patients were dying on the roads as the Sri Lankan authorities had failed to manage the outbreak of the pandemic.

Police Media Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana confirmed that De Silva was under investigation over the Facebook post. When contacted, a spokesman from the news network who wished to remain anonymous told Asian Mirror that the journalist had no official connection with Sirasa and she left for Australia with her husband some time ago.

“Another person in Japan has also shared false stories spreading fear on social media. We are in touch with the Immigration and Emigration authorities. We will arrest him upon his return to Sri Lanka,” Rohana said.

Rohana said 27 other individuals were also under investigation over the same offence. The Police have already arrested some of them while the others are being traced.

Meanwhile, the opposition claimed in Parliament that the government had launched a witch-hunt against those who exercise their freedom of expression on social media.

Speaking in Parliament, SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said the government had handed over a list of 200 journalists to the police to be arrested for disseminating “false information” on social media.