By Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu –
Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Mr. Rosmand Senaratne,
Chairman,
Independent Television Network (ITN),
Wickramasinghepura,
Battaramulla.
16 July 2013
Dear Mr. Senaratne,
I am writing with reference to the Sinhala language 7 pm news broadcast of the Independent Television Network (ITN) on Sunday 14th July 2013.
An item on this news bulletin stated that the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and I, organised a meeting in Ampara on Sunday to further the interests of the LTTE and that the meeting was cut short due to the intervention of the Buddhist clergy and public of the area. The visuals used in the news item did not show any member of CPA or me or any banner or poster naming or in any way representing CPA or myself as the organisers of the meeting. The language used in the news item too was clearly defamatory and intended to arouse public opinion against CPA and myself and bring us into public disrepute.
I am writing therefore on behalf of myself and CPA to request a categorical public apology from ITN on its next news bulletin, as neither CPA nor I, organized any meeting in Ampara on Sunday 14 July 2013. Furthermore, no employee of CPA, including myself, was present at such a meeting. I wish to further state that such an apology be given the same prominence in your news bulletin as the original news item.
It is indeed both deeply shocking and regrettable that any media organization in this country would permit such irresponsible, unprofessional and partisan journalism – even one that is effectively under the control of the state.
I look forward to your swift response, within one week hereof. I wish to also state that in the absence of a satisfactory response I will be considering other remedies including legal action to recover the full extent of the damage caused by the aforesaid wrong news item.
Please note that I will be releasing this letter to the media in the public interest.
Yours sincerely
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
Executive Director
Related posts;
essie / July 16, 2013
Go for it! It will be interesting to see what the reaction will be if you sue.
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Amarasiri / July 17, 2013
CPA and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu,
Yes, file a lawsuit and ask for Rupees 900 million in damages.
Get some lawyers on contingency. Lawyers get 40% you get 60%.
Have Guts.
See what two Egalitarian Young women, Rosa Parks, one in Alabama, USA and the other in Pakistan did against racists and Taliban.
So, go for it. Sue, ITN and those who framed you without facts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement”.[1] Her birthday, February 4, and the day she was arrested, December 1, have both become Rosa Parks Day, commemorated in the U.S. states of California and Ohio.
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks refused to obey bus driver James F. Blake’s order that she give up her seat in the colored section to a white passenger, after the white section was filled. Parks was not the first person to resist bus segregation. Others had taken similar steps in the twentieth century, including Irene Morgan in 1946, Sarah Louise Keys in 1955, and the members of the Browder v. Gayle lawsuit (Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder, Susie McDonald, and Mary Louise Smith) arrested months before Parks. NAACP organizers believed that Parks was the best candidate for seeing through a court challenge after her arrest for civil disobedience in violating Alabama segregation laws though eventually her case became bogged down in the state courts.[2][3]
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Ravindra / July 16, 2013
Whatever the reaction or outome, we certainly appreciate your courage in standing up to this bullying…it has certainly gone too far and the pendulum must swing now…
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Peace Lover / July 16, 2013
ITN i remember in the 80’s and ealry 90’s was so different and had a good variety of English programs catering to all and Sinhala teledrams of high quality.
but alas ITN of now is equal to a street prostitute!
Over to K A Sumansekera (Leela of LEE POTTER) to defend ITN and say everythings a conspiracy of the west with his hero sambandans help! hahahaahahaahahaahahah
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Vibhushana / July 16, 2013
Well, you want Chelvanayagam’s idea. So did LTTE, albeit more violently. That is where the problem lies I feel. The Bikkus probably find you so repulsive for the things Chelvannyagam responsible for over the decades.
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Native Vedda / July 17, 2013
Vibhushana
“The Bikkus probably find you so repulsive for the things Chelvannyagam responsible for over the decades”
When will the Sinhala/Buddhist saffron clad thugs find themselves repulsive? I often see murderous rage in their eyes.
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Amarasiri / July 17, 2013
Native Vedda,
“When will the Sinhala/Buddhist saffron clad thugs find themselves repulsive? I often see murderous rage in their eyes.”
All the Sinhala Buddhist Monks are infected with the Racist Monk Mahanama Myth Virus. They do NOT follow the teachings of the Enlightened Buddha. They follow the rules to keep the Monk Hegemony for ever.
Won’t you like to get a comfortable lifestyle, with an abundant supply of food and boys, and keep that lifestyle for ever?
The Tibetan Buddhist Monks did that, and the Chinese put an end to it. Even Genghis Khan would have done the same.
See,
Real Buddhism aka Mara-ism.
Introduction to Buddhism. A violent Religion? Monk Hegemony?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNOfTGSADdY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clcs2PSze0
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Peter / July 16, 2013
Incredible (on second thoughts ‘par for the course’!) irresponsibility a state news channel. Hopefully not a sign of things to come!
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Peter / July 16, 2013
Sorry – that should have read “… FOR a state news channel..”
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Rev.Devil / July 16, 2013
Oh …!! That’s Sudharshana Gunawardena in the picture…..has nothing to do with CPA. But the Shallow-mindedness has no boundaries to fool the small minds. For , sure they knew that mass is ass
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Native Vedda / July 17, 2013
Rev.Devil
“For , sure they knew that mass is ass”
Are you one of them?
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Rev.Devil / July 17, 2013
Dear Vedda your Ax is usually sharp. Especially when you chop in this forum,and the sad part of you is that you are the Native of this land but left out in the wilderness to use your ax while the Reverends and the Devils take charge of this country.
Now tell me, who the cap ”ass” fit well to!!? You or Me !!?
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / July 16, 2013
Lawyers will always still seek legal remedies when the damage to reputation and other intangibles are really on a different paradigm altogether…
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Lapatiya / July 16, 2013
Mahinda Abesundara, Sudarman Radaliyagoda and (Na)Liyana and Apullana Liyannan does not know that Language. They will understand only one language, Dr. Mervin Silva knows that Language very well.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 16, 2013
where is that Media Ethic man, Who made a big bang on Parliment???.
They [ C P A] should take legle action and ask courts to oader to
I T N to broadcast public apology for continues 7 day in three languages on their news broadcast programm.
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Yehiya / July 16, 2013
No Law, politician appointed as Chief justice.Funny island.
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Native Vedda / July 17, 2013
Yehiya
“Funny island.”
Shall we rename it as Absurdistan?
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Nabil / July 16, 2013
Mark my words, this is all a show starting with the CPA. they will go through the process. ITN will do nothing as they know nothing will come out of the efforts of CPA and they know it is better to ignore the letter and pretend that nothing happened.
The long arm of the law will not reach ITN and we will all get back on stride and get on with our lives
Nabil
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Cyril Pathiranage / July 17, 2013
Supporters of 13 amendment and Power devolution, Government labeled LTTE,Like TNA,Paikia,Nimalka,Sunanda.But All FORMER LTTE CADRES NOW IN UPFA GOVERNMENT,Shameless Sinhalese racists like Weerawansa,Champaka,Rathana and Nalin silva living one house and eating one plate without dress.Kadeyana Mahinda Abayasundera,Sudharman know it but they are doing their job.
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K.A Sumanasekera / July 17, 2013
Why do you need the ITN to find out who Paikiosothy is, what he stands for, what he he has been doing under the LTTE rule and how he has cranked it up in to top gear since Nanthikadal.
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Native Vedda / July 17, 2013
K.A Sumanasekera
“Why do you need the ITN to find out who Paikiosothy is, what he stands for, what he he has been doing under the LTTE rule”
Who is this guy Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu?
What does he stand for?
What has he been doing under the LTTE rule?
Who is this guy K.A Sumanasekera?
What does he stand for?
What has he been doing under the clan rule?
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Peace Lover / July 17, 2013
i will answer your questions Native Vedda
“Who is this guy K.A Sumanasekera?
What does he stand for?
What has he been doing under the clan rule?”
He is also known as Leela (of Lee Potter fame or rather ill-fame)
He stands for racism and licking the boots of his paymasters
he is like a obedient dog doing what the master/s tell him to write!
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Peter / July 17, 2013
KAS – you say “Why do you need the ITN to find out who Paikiosothy is, what he stands for, what he he has been doing under the LTTE rule and how he has cranked it up in to top gear since Nanthikadal.”
Well, many of us DO know who Paikiasothy is and what he stands for. His stance AGAINST the LTTE is also well known. Where have you been all this time? It is also well known (judging from your consistent comments) what sort of person YOU are, how biased you are and that your usual irrelevant comments expose your refusal to look at TRUTH.
I don’t know that you are the Lee Potter that many accuse you of being, but if you are then your views do make sense. Immorality knows no bounds, as your heroes will testify to.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 17, 2013
How does this KAS respect for TRUTH,
Because he is doing a Job.
He is paid to do that,and other licking jobs also.
so, no shame for him to sell his self respect.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 17, 2013
K A SUMANA {WATHIEE];[ leela];
As you know, in Sinhala language,
there is a saying “Eti kehel kaapu Uguduwa”.
You are in the same possition now.
A real UGUDUWA POSSITION. Dont you?,
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gonbella / July 17, 2013
Paikiasothy,
You make me laugh. You have been living through these troubled decades in Sri Lanka. I am shocked that you are shocked at media organizations in this country permitting such irresponsible, unprofessional and partisan journalism.
Where on heavens earth have you been. This is it. This is the norm of responsible journalism in ‘Silly Lanka’.
Keep waiting. Apology will come when Godot comes.
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Rev.Devil / July 17, 2013
Dear gonbella,You are reasonable, but at the same time Sara is one of the very few Citizens of this country who, tirelessly teaches about ”Due process” through his practices.
I do not claim anyone a saint. But in the fast food culture of the MR era, people like Sara is a blessing to this country.
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Native Vedda / July 17, 2013
Rev.Devil
“But in the fast food culture of the MR era, people like Sara is a blessing to this country.”
If true, people like Paikiasothy, Justice Wigneswaran and others should refrain from politics.
My elders like to see them as Jiminy Cricket the official conscience of the people.
Please do not confuse Jiminy Cricket with JimSofty.
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Rev.Devil / July 17, 2013
Dear Native,on another page of this forum somebody claimed that Justice CVW doesn’t fit for this job as he is not a Politician !!? Oh…!! …and now you reflect your elders. True but at the same time you can not be a stranger to Luther king jr’s many thoughts, like… ”….not the the wickedness of the bad that hurt us but the grant silent of the modest !!?” isn’t it ?!!
Are we supposed to await to be pounded by another war monger in the near future if we like to keep these gentlemen out of politics !!?
Let’s hope that these men of policy shall make a few more ”Carlo Collodis” who could create more harmless heroes in the field of Politics.
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Native Vedda / July 18, 2013
Rev.Devil
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.
– Albert Einstein
It does not mean good people with conscience should become prisoners of politics. They can remain outside political arena still can be active and effective by being Jiminy Cricket.
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Rev.Devil / July 19, 2013
Yes….when recalling some names like… SWRD, JRJ, Colvin RDS, Peter Keuneman, NM Perera, Lalith …and then look at our latest dons Viswa Varanapala, Tissa Witharana and GL also include our pathetic Vasu !! Were they productive in politics !!? or disastrous !!? Mmmmm….I have to agree with you Native. But in this part of the world, do you mean that the term ”Politics or Politician” has nothing to do with modesty, honesty and sincerity !!?
The last time I heard the word ”Gentleman” in the field of politics was when Dudley resigned. Mmmmmm….Don’t know what to say Native.
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Native Vedda / July 19, 2013
Rev.Devil
“Don’t know what to say Native.”
Perhaps your middle, upper middle or upper class or high caste upbringing and life style put too much emphasis on politicians and their cronies.
Ordinary simple people time again have proved what they are capable of. Most progressive changes came about due to their simple ideas, sacrifice and hard work.
Keep hope alive
as Rev Jesse Jackson would say.
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Sumith / July 18, 2013
The tragic part is all former terrorist leaders are now part of UPFA and these government news agencies keep a blind eye on them and yet they haunt the people like Paikiosothy etc.
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Wickramasiri / July 18, 2013
Rosemund Senaratne was a pioneer TV man. He is no longer credible. If ITN does not formally apologize he must tender his resignation and retire gracefully.
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Jim softy / July 18, 2013
Who organize the meeting from Colombo ?
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