FMM said Samarasinghe had been questioned for over four hours based on a complaint ostensibly under Sri Lankan Monetary Law made by the Central Bank in relation to a series of investigative articles published in the Sunday Leader and Irudina newspapers last year.
"While the FMM would have liked to see the CID and Police extend their fullest support to a public investigation into the dealings of Goldquest in Sri Lanka, it is perversely not the case," the Free Media Movement said.
"This incident is indicative of the challenges faced by professional media in Sri Lanka today.
"Quashing investigative reportage and independent journalism, we clearly see this as another incident wherein the State authorities, despite overt commitments to media freedom, in reality have a callous disregard for it."
The FMM asked those in charge of the decision to question Samarasinghe to make the reasons for their decision public.
"Recognising the inviolable right of journalists to investigate misdemeanors of public and private institutions and individuals who have embezzled public money, we find it deplorable that the Police have acted in a manner that chills media rights in Sri Lanka," the FMM said.
"We urge the Police and CID to desist, and remind them that working collaboratively helps strengthen democracy more than antagonizing and threatening journalists."
"The CID wanted to know the manner in which Sonali Samarasinghe conducted her investigation, the sources of her information, the officials she spoke to and the details obtained with regard to documents stopping the Goldquest investigation," the Free Media Movement said.
"The CID also questioned Ms. Samarasinghe on contacting the then Solicitor General to verify information on the status of the Goldquest investigation.
"The CID informed Ms. Samarasinghe that if she did not disclose any of this information, they would inform the Magistrate Court and obtain the necessary directives."
"Ms. Samarasinghe declined to give the sources of the information."
FMM said this was not the first occasion in which the Police have questioned journalists for pursuing stories that are perceived by those in power to be off limits to media acting in the public interest.
"This is also not the first occasion that journalists have been intimidated by the Police with requests made to reveal their sources," FMM said.
This has not been divulged.This person does not wish further investigation into the matter.
Are police being used to cover up corruption,inefficiency,lethargy or a cover up?
We know from many days he Goldquest and Pyramids are operating around the sri lanka and around the Gulf Countries
There are very big business we are loosing very big chunk of money every day. It is aimed at the sri lankans from gulf countries.
I can give the evidence of the gold quest. we must against to these type of crimes. we are loosing so much our income in sri lanka. so we have to show the things our peoples and our government to stop the goldquest operation around our peoples.
All Rights Reserved.