A paid worker of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Jacqueline Park, currently in Sri Lanka as a resource person for a workshop organised by the Free Media Movement (FMM) at the Janaki Hotel, Colombo, has been detained by immigration authorities for questioning after it was found that Park had come on a tourist visa, thereby violating immigration laws.
Sunanda and Park
Controller of Immigration and Emigration, Chulananda Perera has confirmed to media that the Park, along with an associate, are being questioned over violation of immigration laws prior to them being deported. According to sources, authorities are questioning Park regarding her previous visits to Sri Lanka to determine whether or not she is guilty of other violations.
Park has been a regular attendee at FMM events, conducting workshops and other training programmes. According to sources Park has always used a tourist visa to enter the country and as such is guilty of violating immigration laws on multiple occasions.
Park, a close friend and associate of Sunanda Deshapriya, was a beneficiary of an air ticket purchased for her by the latter using funds fraudulently obtained from the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA). Deshapriya was sacked by the CPA and subsequently admitted wrongdoing. Deshapriya’s fraudulent activities while in charge of the FMM are well documented. Park later issued a letter claiming that she did receive a ticket from Deshapriya, but CPA found that no such ticket was purchased. CPA concluded subsequent to an investigation that Park’s letter was an attempt to cover up highway robbery perpetrated by Deshapriya.
Colombo Telegraph is in possession of irrefutable proof that Park, a paid employee of the iFJ has violated the organidation’s regulations by accepting cash payments from the FMM for services rendered during a workshop held at the Janaki Hotel on July 1, 2008, the day following an assault on former TNL News Editor and then employee of the Sri Lanka Press Institute.
Sunil Jayasekera of the FMM is also being questioned regarding the organisation’s long standing association with Park and therefore possible complicity in the said violations.
IFJ is an organisation where full membership can only be obtained by journalist trade unions. As such, Sri Lanka is represented by the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) and the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU). The FMM only has ‘Associate Member’ status in the IFJ and does not enjoy voting rights.
Max Silva / October 30, 2013
Sunanda Deshapriya,Jacqueline Park are all world class fraudsters.
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PalmSquirrell / October 31, 2013
What was the fraud?
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Rev.Devi / November 1, 2013
SUNANDA THE MEGA FRAUD !!
PalmSquirrell, find time to go through the following links. Especially the funny and childish answers, underneath the first 1st article of Mandana Ismil, given by the 21st century Jackal called SUNANDA DESHAPRIYA !!?
1.Anything but a ‘safety’ fund, By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20090531/issues.htm
2. How Sunanda Robbed The Money And NGO Accountability FMM Still Not Submitted Audited Accounts For Rs 30.9 Million. by Uvindu Kurukulasuriya
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/03/04/how-sunanda-robbed-the-money-and-ngo-accountability-fmm-still-not-submitted-audited-accounts-for-rs-30-9-million/
3. Sunanda Saga, States Of Denial And NGO Accountability
By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/02/26/sunanda-saga-states-of-denial-and-ngo-accountability/
4.Selling the FMM for Good Life – by Frederica Jansz
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/06/17/selling-the-fmm-for-the-good-life-2/
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Maamanithar / November 1, 2013
Sunanda DESHAPRIYA or Sunanda kAASUPRIYA !!!?
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Thondamanaru / October 30, 2013
Park gets her fuses short circuited by parking at the wrong place..
Bye… bye … Park
Go……….. say a hello to Sunanda & make sure he takes a bath regularly as he was allergic to water when he was in Sri Lanka.
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mechanic / October 30, 2013
Since she is sittings with Sunanda, Check whether [Edited out]!
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Leo76 / October 30, 2013
The Government should also regulate the number of foreigners who come here on Tourist Visas and actually work. There are many of them.
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Abhaya Premawardena / October 30, 2013
parked illegally !
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JimSofty / October 30, 2013
These journalists are corrupt to the core and are evil.
they come to Sri Lanka to with wrong visa to investigate how evil Sri Lanka.
what hypocrites.
Just get rid of them ASAP.
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PalmSquirrell / October 31, 2013
Well considering the GOSL does everything possible to cover-up and hide the truth, it takes stealth to expose the GOSL. Authoritarian regimes always persecute journalists, so nothing wrong such little white lies to expose the big lie.
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Surath Perera / October 31, 2013
Looks like CT has a personal issue with SL media organizations
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Nihal Gunatilake / October 31, 2013
Hi – Park,you have parked in (Sri Lanka) illegally. Therefore you deceive a Parking Ticket. In this case parking inspectors are (Immigration Officers). Do not Park here again, please. bye-nihalg
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Brad / October 31, 2013
Channel 4 people tried the same trick in 2009 didn’t they – and got booted out. That’s why their ‘crusade’ on behalf of the tigers. Of course they may be getting paid by the tigers as well, anything is possible like in Murdoch’s enterprises.
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Hakeem Bhai / October 31, 2013
IFJ is the most corrupt media organization in the world which teaches ethics for journalists. Their unethical practices are little known as their voices are louder. Its former Secretary General Aiden White was elected for 25 years continuously – so much for their democracy. For some activists he is no difference to Gadafi who was also elected for three decades. Jacqui Park is another most corrupt official and both wife and husband are benefiting from the contributions from poor journalists. These characters are dangerous than those in Taliban. We, in Pakistan know their true characters. Shame on them!!!
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Wickramasiri / October 31, 2013
I do not see anything wrong in coming on a tourist visa if it is not for permanent employment.Have we forgotten how Karuna went to U.K. with a defence ministry visa? This looks like harassment to me.
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srilal / October 31, 2013
Dear CT Owners & Editors,
appreciate your earlier exposure of Mr S Deshapriya’s money scandals and associated partners ,but your never ending attack on selected individuals is some what troubling , take for instance Dr Bahu , what crime has he done to SL , you guys were very harsh on him in a very minor matter , Dear CT owners please be mindful , you have earned a lot of respect and trust across the board in a very short span of time , don’t get carried away by going after on selected individuals , as a mean of unfinished personnel vengeance, just look at the bigger picture !
Thank you.
PS : I used to get my information from Lankanewsveb and Lankaenews ,not any more , you know why , they have lost all important IMPARTIALITY …………..
!
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Seetha Kanya / October 31, 2013
Bahu??? He called Ranil to coverup his party man’s fraud. Don’t you read CT? Is it a minor matter??
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Wickramasiri / October 31, 2013
srilal, Agree with you. Besides, Lanka eNews, I have dropped Groundviews as well after they tried to create an unnecessary controversy over some brand of dates called ‘Humber'(CT too almost fell for it ). Journalist must raise issues, even if controversial, but there is need to create them where there is none.
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Wickramasiri / October 31, 2013
srilal, Agree with you. Besides, Lanka eNews, I have dropped Groundviews as well after they tried to create an unnecessary controversy over some brand of dates called ‘Humber'(CT too almost fell for it ). Journalists must raise issues, even if controversial, but there is no need to create them where there is none.
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srilal / October 31, 2013
Dear Wickramasiri ,
Actually i wanted to mention Ground Views and Lanka Guardian as well ,but I didn’t . as for Ground views i have stopped commenting and visiting that site ages ago , GV tries to control and treats its commentators as school children and severely obstruct their freedom of speech ,as a direct result their readership has been drastically reduced. i’m sure most of former GV commentators are here and freely expressing their views without being unfairly censored, all in all CT Editors are doing an outstanding job almost 15-18 hours work in 24/7/52 basis. I hope CT will take our constructive criticisms in right spirit.
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winston devalliere / November 1, 2013
Srilal, good comment. may I add my opinion too?
Quote CT’S ARTICLE : “This story appears to be a barefaced lie considering that the event was jointly organised by the FMM and IFJ. Jayasekera’s statement implies that neither he nor the FMM had prior knowledge of Park’s presence in Sri Lanka, which is highly unlikely given Park’s position in the IFJ and given IFJ’s involvement in the event as co-organiser.”
The wording in the quote above [ ‘ barefaced lie”]does seem to suggest a personal/institutional animosity against Jayasekera as well as the IFJ AND FMM,perhaps because one or more members of the CT are also members of one of the IFJ member organizations that’s disgruntled over it not being meted treatment on par with that meted out to the FMM.
Jayasekera obviously would want to duck trouble with the government. He hence says Park was “originally not assigned to take part in the workshop organized by them” adding that “After hearing that they were in the country we (FMM) decided to request their presence at the workshop. They did not come here on an invitation extended by us.”
No sane person can blame either Jayasekera or the IFJ for resorting to these circuitous routes to ensure someone from the IFJ attended the confab.
BIG DEAL ?
Obviously the government would not have issued a visa to enable the IFJ to send a delegate to the conference. Jayasekera uses the words “ORIGINALLY not assigned” and is careful to say that ” after hearing they were in the country”
Even a kid could appreciate the need for these statements, albeit childish, considering the fact that his involvement in such affairs makes him a prime target for the government’s killer squads.
Come now CT,something’s screwed up here. Your article has turned the Gestapo spotlight on Jayasekera…and I personally think it stinks.
A HELL OF A LOT !
Simply not done when the free media has been under state tyranny for far too long in this country..when too many bloodied footsteps lead away nonchalantly from the bodies of murdered journalists.
SIMPLY NOT DONE CT….. and very, very disappointing !
All the ho-ha stirred up by your article effectively criminalises the work of the ICJ and FMM. A personal agenda is all to obvious and sadly the finger points at you. That , more sadly, would only tend to sully your own reputation and calls to question your professional Bona Fides.
TO BRUSQUELY ENHANCE THE DANGERS ALREADY FACED BY JOURNALISTS CERTAINLY CALLS FOR AT LEAST A CURSORY EXPLANATION TO YOUR READERS. THAT’S IF THE CT INTENDS RETAINING THE STANDING IT’S BEEN ENJOYING FROM A VERy WIDE READERSHIP TO DATE.
WHEN THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH FAILS TO RECOGNISE, DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TRUTH IN THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE AND EXPOSING TRUTH THAT SEEKS TO SUCCOUR AND BUTTRESS THAT WHICH IS EVIL,I THINK ONE FAILS IN UPHOLDING THE ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM SURVIVES.
TO DISMISSIVELY SEEK TO ESTABLISH THE TRUTH OF A MATTER TO THE EXTENT OF BEING INSENSITIVE TO SERIOUSLY JEOPARDISING THE LIVES OF FELLOW JOURNALISTS, IS, IN MY OPINION, THE APPARENT PURSUIT OF TRUTH WITH THE MALA FIDE OBJECTIVE OF SETTLING A PERSONAL SCORE.
tHIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE LOOKS UP AND SPITS.
lET’S NOT GET OUR LINES CROSSED.THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH IS TO AD NOBILITY TO LIFE, IT’S THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE, THE ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND THE PROGRES OF EVIL.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH IS CERTAINLY NOT THE APPREHENSION AND PERSECUTION OF FORCES WHICH SEEK TO APPREHEND EVIL.
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Voice of Justise / October 31, 2013
Sorry.People who support MARA to oppress and suppress peoples freedom and rights will go to hell
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Thondamanaru / November 1, 2013
Apoi Park !!! [Edited out]…………..
Wickramasiri…. Permanent or not one can not violate a Tourists visa to engage in an activity whether for a fee or not.
Karuna went to jail & so would Park.
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Sukumar / November 1, 2013
Poetic justice !
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Goat A / November 2, 2013
She has to cover her tits ,if BBS guys see it will be tac-tits.
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