The BBC probe into all aspects of its Sinhala Service’s activities is still proceeding, Colombo Telegraph learns. The BBC Sinhala Service journalists are being asked by the BBC to participate in the ongoing investigation accompanied by lawyers or trade union representatives if they wish.
Farewell to Elmo in London
Following the suspension of BBC Sinhala Service Editor Priyath Liyanage – and, while a rigorous investigation into all Sandeshaya producers’ activities is in progress in London – the BBC has stopped all Sinhala Service’s Sri Lankan reporters’ contributions to the program outright, Colombo Telegraph learns.
Surprisingly, the BBC has recalled a recently retired Colombo reporter, Elmo Fernando, to send dispatches as the service’s sole Sri Lanka contributor. This action seems to have dismayed the London journalists in view of Fernando’s scandalous record trying to obtain a government interest-free car-loan from a state bank in Colombo with Sandesaya editor Priyath Liyanage’s direct support.
Following Colombo Telegraph’s exposure of this sting, the BBC had to discipline Elmo Fernando, his colleague Chandana Keerthi Bandara and the editor Priyath Liyanage by compelling all three of them to undergo a training program on journalistic ethics.
Recently, the BBC suspended the Sinhala Service’s editor, Priyath Liyanage in response to a serious complaint from former BBC correspondent in Colombo, Frances Harrison.
Presently, the Sinhala Service is completely under the control of newly appointed authorities from the top and all independent program-making by Sandesaya journalists is being fully curtailed. “There was a serious editorial lapse in a programme on the BBC Sinhala Service on Friday 8 November. We have removed the story from our website and are investigating how this happened to ensure nothing similar happens again. While this investigation is underway, the Sinhala Service Editor will not be editing the output or managing the team. A temporary editor will ensure the service will continue to broadcast.” BBC World Service spokesman Paul Rasmussen told Colombo Telegraph last week.
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Expose: BBC Sinhala Head ‘Knowingly Mislead’ The Public
BBC Editor Uses BBC Resources To Cover Up Personal Misconduct
No More Dr. Vickramabahu’s Columns
Left-Right Collusion: Socialist Bahu Called Capitalist Ranil And Urged Not To Expose BBC Misconduct
BBC Pussyfooting On “Takes” From SL Govt’
Vibhushana / December 3, 2013
What about BBC Tamil ? Has it ever reported for example TNA glorifying LTTE and LTTE abducting children? or is child abduction a figment of someone’s imagination?
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Kumar R / December 3, 2013
Obviously BBC has reasons to mistrust the Sinhala service, and not the Tamil service (or the Telungu service, or the Thai service or the many many other such services). Or, are you now implying the Diaspora has bought over the control board at BBC too, and not just Callum Macrae?
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Ben Hurling / December 3, 2013
I don’t what BBC Sinahla Service has done wrong. Time will show.
However, I know almost all Tamil Language Services connected with National boradcasters in the West are tools of LTTE’s racist, ethno-nationalistic propaganda.
True in the UK, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, France etc. List is long.
Tamil language broadacasts in these countries poison minds of young, second generation Tamils against Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka. Fill them with hatred and a form of blind, Tamil, extremely peverted, nationalistic romanticism.
It has been going on for 30 years. Nothing has been done to stop it. Either by GOSL or the national broadcasters involved in the West.
Cheers!
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Ben Hurling / December 3, 2013
I don’t “know” what BBC Sinahla Service has done wrong.
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Kumar R / December 4, 2013
Ben,
Don’t you think it is more probable that the Sinhala regime could brain wash the Sinhala citizens who live under their nose (and a rather iron grip)using the convenient and dispicable patriotism ruse, than it is for the Diaspora to brainwash UK, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, France etc 9the list is too long, as you yourself admit!
Don’t you think it is time to creep out of the crevice that you are cooped up and start smelling that wonderful coffee!!
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Ben Hurling / December 4, 2013
Kumar R,
I have listened to many hateful, racist broadcasts done by Tamil language services from Western capitals.
It has been going on for decades anybody taking action. Fact.
Does truth hurt?
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Kumar R / December 4, 2013
Ben,
My question is which assumption seems more logical, rational and achievable to you? (a) The Sinhalese citizens are kept hoodwinked and misinformed by a regime that has increasingly clawed in all control of local media, or (b) the Diaspora has been able to buy control of so many media in so many countries such as UK, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, France etc — in fact the list is too long as you yourself concede?
Is it possible that the foreign media’s current aggressive condemnation and greater flexibility to Diaspora views results from their recognition that they had previously been intentionally and arrogantly mislead my the regime (zero percent civilian casualty; no war crimes were committed; claim that “just-means” demonstrably met and refusal to open up for investigation; denial of the videos that became public; — just to name a few).
Here is one more reason why the Diaspora may be more close to ground realities than you realize. In an article a week or so ago Rajeeva conceded that until after the elections the regime was not aware of the gross lack of support for the regime in the North, even though the Government continuously assured the internationals that the Government enjoys overwhelming support and appreciation from the vast majority of the Northern Citizens. Diaspora has constantly challenged that claim – and the election results proved the Diaspora right. Don’t you think such lopsided Government view is totally abysmal, given that Sri Lanka’s North has the highest concentration of politico-military intelligence for any place in the world.
Do you truly believe Diaspora has so much of resources to buy such power at the highest levels all over the world? Is it possible that the Diaspora is able to expose the regime’s lies and falsehoods and thereby convince the free media – only because the Regime has been far too foolish in their attempts at cover-ups denials, instead of being forthright? Ask yourself that question – don’t fall victim to foolish if not mind-boggling stupidity in the Government propaganda.
Perhaps you are yourself a victim of Sri Lanka’s brainwashing – have you considered that? Give it a little deeper thought and some enlightenment may come – God willing!
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Ben Hurling / December 5, 2013
KumarR,
Thanks a lot for the detailed lecture!
I am no victim of GOSL’s propganda via state media. GOSL manipulates and controls meida in SL in terrible way. We all know that. Sri Lanklans are in an on-going struggle to change that since our Independence.
However, in this discussion we are dealing with hatred being spread by LTTE die-ass-pora via well meaning brandwidth provided to them by national broadcasters in the West.
These guys are spreading so much hate. The next generation of young Tamils grow up learning to hate the guts of all Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka.
If that is not a problem for you, we have nothing to discuss.
Cheers!
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Kumar R / December 5, 2013
Ben,
Here is your initial accusation that I raised concerns about -“almost all Tamil Language Services connected with National broadcasters in the West are tools of LTTE’s racist, ethno-nationalistic propaganda. True in the UK, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, France etc. List is long.”
The is a myth and an implausible one. Let me explain one more time. You are wrong on both of your two assertions: neither is (a) the Diaspora propagating racism, nor is (b) the media of the too-long-to-list countries tools of LTTE. Diaspora is the only voice the Sri Lankan Tamils have to convey and convince the internationals of the true ground reality that is being muffled and grossly misrepresented by the Sri Lankan Government (hence my comment on Rajiva’s article). The increasing sympathy the West is offering the Tamil Diaspora results not from the fact the Diaspora is able to control or even “buy” favour, but rather because the media has waken up to the foolish cover-ups and denials by a stupid and myopic Government (lead in that attempt by the spin master Dayan in 2009). Hope my third attempt at clarification shows some success. Or are you still of the view that it is even remotely possible that the entirety (long-list) of Western Media is a Tool of LTTE racists?
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Amarasiri / December 5, 2013
Ben Hurling,……………………………………………
The Tamil Language Services in the West are an extension of the so-called Global Tamil Forum,GTF, and has evolved to be GTTF, The Global Tamil Terrorist forum, promoting Tamil Racism.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
……………………………………………………….
Of Course the Sinhala have their own Racist Organizations, BBS, JHU and other state sponsored groups and state media like the Daily News and the Sinhala Newspapers.
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Ben Hurling / December 5, 2013
Amrasiri
Well said. I have to agree with you.
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Abhaya Premawardena / December 3, 2013
BBC and ethics . isnt that an oxymoron ?
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Ben Hurling / December 4, 2013
Abhaya Premawardena,
Worry about Hudson & Rajpal before BBC.
You are biting more than you can possibly chew mate.
Cheers!
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solomonmendis / December 4, 2013
BBC knew of jimmy servaile from very begining.
what ethics BBC got when they protected JIMMY Servile the pedophile and the rapist
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Karunakaran / December 4, 2013
Really the BBC has ethics? If so what kind of? When Israel was bombing innocent Palestinians where were those ethical journalists?
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