Britain’s Channel 4 Television, persona non grata for the Sri Lankan Government since it aired the first documentary it claimed was evidence Colombo had committed war crimes in the final phase of the war against the LTTE, complains it took nearly nine weeks to receive accreditation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next month.
Channel 4 Editor Ben De Pear tweeted that Channel 4 had suddenly received confirmation that its applications had been received one hour after reporters and editors at the broadcaster engaged Sri Lankan Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath.
Channel 4 Editor Ben De Pear/Photograph: Felix Clay for the Guardian
Herath tweeted yesterday that Media Accreditation for the summit in Colombo next month was nearly complete. October 25 was the deadline for applications from media seeking registration to cover the summit.
Channel 4’s Jonathan Miller tweeted that they had applied for accreditation in August 2013, but were yet to receive any notification. Last night, Miller tweeted that he had finally received confirmation that his application had been received. Addressing Herath on Twitter yesterday, Miller said: @charith9 #lka media accreditation for #chogm mostly done? Channel 4 News still waiting. What’s the problem?
Channel 4 Editor de Pear said Channel 4 was the first to apply for media accreditation for CHOGM in Sri Lanka but it was yet to receive accreditation even though every other broadcaster in Britain had obtained their official notice of summit accreditation.
One hour after Channel 4 began a campaign of sorts of Twitter, the Editor reported that ‘as if by magic’ they had received confirmation that their applications for accreditation had been received. A few hours ago, De Pear reported on Twitter that accreditation had finally been received, but the channel would now commence the wait to have its visas approved for attendance.
Accreditation remains pending for applicants Frances Harrison – journalist and author of Still Counting the Dead, recounting atrocities in the final phase of the war and Callum Macrae, director of the No Fire Zone, a third documentary on atrocities in the last days of the civil war. Macrae was also formerly with Channel 4.
Sri Lanka will retain the right to reject visa for any delegate or media personnel seeking entrance into the country for the summit. All CHOGM media accreditation was scrutinised intensely by the Military Intelligence Unit and not the immigration authorities, Colombo Telegraph learns.
Senguttuvan / October 26, 2013
Adamantly and untenably refusing to grant Visas to acclaimed journalists from countries that have been justly critical of the Rajapakse regime’s conduct of the war and its aftermath will
leave room for interpretation the Rajapakses have much to hide. Where is Kamlesh Sharma’s “Commonwealth and/or Lattimer Principles”? It is “chasing away” reputed media and service organisations prior to May 2009 that forms much of the regime’s large pot of woes. At any rate, the world is not going to watch when the regime behaves irrationally in this regard. The refusal alone is good enough for some Heads of State to refuse to attend. The Gothabaya R and Bandula R nyet doctrine to ban journos whose face they do not like may not hold here.
Senguttuvan
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srilal / October 26, 2013
Sengu ,
my gut feelings say , the authority will play the cat & mouse game till its too late for British authorities to take any possible action , by the time they get their official visa refusal notifications , Hypocrite David Cameron will have been BBQing his Tiger prawns with equally guilty Abbot & Kay in Sunny Sri Lanka.
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Abhaya Premawardena / October 26, 2013
dont bother to come ..
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Spring Koha / October 27, 2013
No, No, let our Friends from C4 come but tell them NOT to eat or drink anything as we cannot be held responsible for any bad taste they may find. We cannot be held responsible for the actions of true patriots when they find anyone from C4; as the local saying goes ‘api suddha karala ariya’………….
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Native Vedda / October 28, 2013
Abhaya Premawardena
“dont bother to come”
Don’t bother to host CHOGM.
Whom are you trying to impress?
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ela kolla / October 29, 2013
[Edited out]
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hela / October 30, 2013
Sri Lanka has the right and it should exercise those rights like any other country would do.
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Thiru / October 27, 2013
By denying visas to famed Channel 4 Editor Ben De Pear, No Fire Zone famed Callum Macrae, and The Cage famed Frances Harrison, Sri Lanka will bring more fame and reputation for these journalists, which in turn will bring more damage to the lawless Sri Lankan regime.
Do the ruling morons of Sri Lanka realize this?
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / October 28, 2013
Let’s get real Thiru, you had never even heard of the “famed” Ben De Pear before you saw this article :D
Also, you seem to be mixing up some of your “famed journalists” there, no doubt since they’re so famous and stuff :) :)
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Siva Sankaran Blocker Sarma / October 28, 2013
There is none so famous as you Mister Siva Sankaran David Blocker Sarma…the “famed apologist” for Gotapaiya’s brothers government and his armed forces terrorists. :D
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David Blacker / October 28, 2013
I am not Siva-whatsisname, you cowardly dog. I don’t hide behind false names like you motherless turds.
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David Blacker / October 28, 2013
Dear CT, I must protest at your allowing commentators (Siva Sankaran David Blocker Sarma) to use my name (or a mocking variant of it) on your site. Can you please stop allowing this please. I am sure you will not be happy if I were to use Uvindu’s name or any other of the site’s journos names in this manner, nor will you allow it.
Please have the common courtesy to stop allowing such childish behaviour.
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Steve / October 28, 2013
Stop moaning and “grow a pair” and be a man !
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David Blacker / October 29, 2013
Stop using your mother’s name, Steve.
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David Blacker / October 29, 2013
Dear CT, I must protest at your allowing commentators (Siva Sankaran David Blocker Sarma) to use my name (or a variant of it) on your site. Can you please stop allowing this please. I am sure you will not be happy if I were to use the names of your journos in this manner. Have your forgotten your own guidelines, or do you believe that these comments do indeed comply with the below?
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Steve / October 29, 2013
If you don’t like CT, there is an easy solution to this problem
STOP POSTING !
You are not in the army dear boy, no one is taking orders from you
You really need to man up.
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hela / October 30, 2013
Famous or infamous??
You should say, Frances Harrison famed self acknowledged LTTE member, Callum Macrae famed paid agent (mercenary) of LTTE.
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kris / October 27, 2013
WE don’t need you here, stay with LTTE diaspora
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Native Vedda / October 28, 2013
kris
“WE don’t need you here, stay with LTTE diaspora”
You too don’t need CHOGM, stay with Lanky Chini bhai bhai.
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kris / October 29, 2013
Vedda also not invited for CHOGM
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hela / October 30, 2013
Who are you to decide what Sri Lanka wants or do not want?
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / October 28, 2013
Kris [ Ruhuwaan Ferdinad, JI Soth, Dalu Banda,]
Oh yes;
Stay with Looters, White van Goons, Rapists, Heroine delers and Killers.
that is the new trend of Ass licking so called Sri Lankan journalists, like M S, R N, B j.
well-done JUoo JUoo, Jurnos.
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kris / October 29, 2013
Stay with Looters, White van Goons, Rapists, Heroine delers and Killers.
Julampitiye Amaraya
What else you did other than what you said above
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Lapatiya / October 27, 2013
According to reliable sources These Channel 4 team will come to Sri Lanka to promote their killing field 1, 11 and other films related to the great war which we won. In these films everybody can see smoke from bombs, smoke from fire and half naked and naked bodies etc. etc. Actually by now they should be aware that according our Sri Lankan culture that kind of films cannot be allowed. We are a nation with more than 2600 years of civilized culture and even smoking scenes are not allowed in our films. Abusing child’s and killing foreigners by powerful politicians are not part of our culture and that is from western culture.
Recently our Mr. Gota Banned “Flying Fish” film because in that film Gayesha Perera’s fish also can be seen. In our Films Drinking Alcohol is not allowed according to Mathata thitha concept. 80% of our films are only “kotu” and they are great films as smoking and drinking and naked, half naked scenes are not allowed according to A(h)inda chinthanaya. Even our Saddarmadveepa Chakrawarthi recently said publicly that he can stop “Face Book” also as it is not good for our children’s. He was about to do that and Laxman Hulugalla intervened and lifted the ban as he is more powerful than our Chakrawarthi.
Now these westerners will cry that in Sri Lanka there is no media freedom and bla, bla. Actually govt. wants them to come to Sri Lanka and see the actual media freedom that we are enjoying. see the “Surangana Stories” of Anura Horesus of Divaina News paper for example.
Even now channel 4 is not too late to make a film like “Abha”, “Siri Parakum”, “Dutugamunu” “Matha” and come to Sri Lanka. I am sure they will get their Visas ready within one day and our “Kuliyapitiya School Girls” will have a traditional half naked Swaziland dance to welcome Channel 4 team. If the Channel 4 need further advise on this matter they may contact our great historian Jackson Anthony, Somaratna Disanayaka, Gotabaya Rajapaksha, Ravindra Randeniya, Gamini Sumanasekara, Asoka Serasinga and other “K(n)ala karayos.
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PalmSquirrell / October 27, 2013
What does 2600 years of culture (alleged) have to do with exposing war crimes? Egypt has a much older culture, yet I don’t see anyone Egyptian or foreign claiming that their ancient culture should insulate the Muslim Brotherhood, Mubarack regime or the current Sisi military Junta as immune from criticism and exposure.
Iraq is home to an even older culture, and generally is referred to as the cradle of civilization, yet no one says Iraqi politicians and groups are immune from criticism because of their ancient culture.
Naked bodies, violence and brutality on civilians are the facts of the war and the truth should be shown. The reason that this is obscene is just a cover to hide the facts from the public eyes.
Flying Fish is a fictionalized movie about real life experiences, so how in the heck can you compare it to a documentary like “Killing Fields” which is about things that actually happened.
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Lapatiya / October 28, 2013
Go back to School.
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Spring Koha / October 27, 2013
What are these people complaining about?
My friends KeithN, IqbalA, MandanaI-A, FredericaJ and PrageethE are still waiting for their accreditation. Mr Lasantha W has sent his apologies for not being able to come; he says he will be here ‘in spirit’.
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Rod / October 27, 2013
Quite Ok. Try to go to Britain and the visa will be rejected outright for Sri Lankans even for genuine visitors.
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PalmSquirrell / October 28, 2013
You are comparing a well known Journalist from a 1st world country who obviously has extremely slim chance of settling in SL to a 3rd world country under economic and authoritarian hardship who would do almost anything to settle abroad especially in the West.
Heck most South Asian given half chance would love to settle in the West, so is it a surprise that visas are requited of them and the process for approval is strict.
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Native Vedda / October 28, 2013
Rod
“Sri Lankans even for genuine visitors.”
Come on you know better than this.
When did Sri Lankans become genuine visitors, refugees or students?
It is a news to me.
They came to my ancestral land on Kalthonies and now they are using motorized Kalathonies to swarm my cousin’s land.
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Spring Koha / October 28, 2013
These days there a growing number of Sinhalese as boat people too; some ofcourse are the ‘hattay’ chance lot and others the ‘api nikang aava, balanda!’ brigade. No wonder immigration officers the world over start hyperventilating at the sight of a Sri Lankan passport.
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Chuti / October 28, 2013
If you are a true campaigner for human rights, can you make another documentary against US Drone attack on un-arm civilian in Pakistan, Afghanistan & other countries??
Show the world that C4 is an independent institution who stand for HR violations around the world regardless the county.
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srilal / October 28, 2013
please check C4’s documentary movies against their own british troops and US forces’es atrocities before your next wise comment.
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sarojini / October 28, 2013
Srilal . Please let us know the link . We are interested.
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srilal / October 29, 2013
check this out
http://www.channel4.com/news/secret-war-files-afghanistan-to-iraq
http://www.channel4.com/news/the-tragedy-of-war-in-afghanistan
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srilal / October 29, 2013
http://www.channel4.com/news/secret-war-files-afghanistan-to-iraq
http://www.channel4.com/news/the-tragedy-of-war-in-afghanistan
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srilal / October 30, 2013
try these
http://www.channel4.com/news/secret-war-files-afghanistan-to-iraq
http://www.channel4.com/news/the-tragedy-of-war-in-afghanistan
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Thondamanaru / October 29, 2013
wA..DA………. wa da……… Thangatchchi’s armed with Bata slippers.
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