The vernacular newspaper 'Mawbima' repeated the mistake of publishing the face of the 17-year-old suspect in the Kotadeniyawa toddler’s murder, on its front page.

 

This is the second successive day the newspaper has published the photograph. The picture it published today was a larger reprint of yesterday’s picture and was used for a news item regarding the DNA tests done on the suspects.

 

However, it's sister paper, 'Ceylon Today', published the same news item without using the photographs of suspects.

 

This practice used by the Sinhala paper was vehemently criticized yesterday on social media. Critics said that this could tarnish both the schoolboy’s reputation and future.

 

Speaking recently to BBC, Human Rights Commission Chief Dr. Prathibha Mahanamahewa said that the Police have an obligation to protect the identity of such suspects.