Government Information Director Anusha Pelpita assured that he would take up the issue of non recognition by the Civil Defence Force (CDF) of the media accreditation cards issued to journalists by his department.

"I will make an official intimation to CDF’s Director-General, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera so that a circular can be issued to the rank and file", he said.

Responding to a complaint that CDF personnel manning the checkpoint at the Dehiwala bridge had disregarded the media accreditation card and demanded the national identity card of a senior journalist, Pelpita admitted the issue need to be addressed at the highest level.

The checkpoint’s OIC, who identified himself as Bandara, had politely told the journalist that they had not been given instructions to accept the media accreditation cards issued by the Government Information Department to media personnel as a valid form of identification.

"We have been told about official identity cards of members of the judiciary, doctors and lawyers but media cards are alien to us", Bandara explained.

Pelpita said specimens of the media accreditation card had been sent to the commanders of the tri-services and the police and there is no problem as the officers and men down the line have been adequately briefed.

Repeated attempts to contact Rear Admiral Weerasekera for comment were futile. He did not return calls by the Sunday Island.

CDF’s Deputy Director, SSP Nandana Wijeratne also could not be reached. Calls to his mobile phone evoked the curt response "Mahattaya eliyata gihin" (Sir has gone out), when told the Sunday Island was calling.