By Colombo Telegraph –
Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne
Colombo Telegraph regrets to announce that Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne’s submissions will not be published for reasons of intellectual dishonesty and political irresponsibility. This decision came into effect on Wednesday December 19, 2012. The decision was taken in the context of correspondence detailed below.
On December 18 Colombo Telegraph sent an email to Karunaratne asking whether he phoned the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe to request that he covers up misconduct on the part of a member of his party. The substance of that email is as follows:
1. We have credible evidence that you talked to Ranil Wickemasinghe and urged him to not write to Lord chris patten regarding BBC journalists applying for interest free loans as per a scheme set up by the Government of Sri Lanka. Why did you do this?
2. What is your opinion on your party member, BBC journalist Chandana Keerthi Bandara, applying for this interest free loan from state banks where the treasury paid the interest to the relevant bank using tax payer money?
3. Don’t you think that this is unethical and amounts to a bribe being given to journalists by the Rajapaksa regime?
He didn’t reply and when we sent a mild reminder he sent a one word response on December 19: “thanks”. We then asked him again to answer our questions. He has not. When he came on gmail chat and we again asked him to answer our questions. He has not. For the record, Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne regularly chats with Colombo Telegraph and its journalists.
Dr Karunaratne is a strident commentator on issues relating to corruption, accountability, good governance, media freedom, responsible media etc. His silence is disturbing and immoral, we are forced to conclude.
Related posts;
Left-Right Collusion: Socialist Bahu Called Capitalist Ranil And Urged Not To Expose BBC Misconduct
BBC Pussyfooting On “Takes” From SL Govt’
Leon / December 22, 2012
CT should not cover Bahu’s column till he replies to the questions posed by CT. This is a question of honesty and integrity.
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Ben Hurling / December 23, 2012
I salute the high standards CT is aspiring to. I fully support CT in that effort. CT is a blessing to our country. However, we can never find people who have never ever done anything wrong in their lives. CT’s reaction to a man who has spent a life time at the barriacades seems rather high handed and harsh. I hope reason will prevail. And that Bahu will continue to contribute to the national conversation.
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David Johns / December 22, 2012
You have taken a great decision based on the unethical behavior of Dr. Vickramabahu. He seem to be same as the other politicians. Bahu you are disgusting man. Are these the kind of politics you have been doing all those years?
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Latimer / December 22, 2012
Did RW send letter or not to Chris Patten?
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Ben Hurling / December 23, 2012
Please phone Chris Patten and request him not to entertain any correspondence from Sri Lanka’s totally disfunctional opposition leader RW. Lol.
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Ummu Hana / December 23, 2012
The question remain still open whether the request made by WK is honored by the counterpart by not lodging the complain on one side and at the same time leaking the unethical behavior of WK on the other side.
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Ummu Hana / December 23, 2012
The question remain still open whether the request made by WK is honored by the counterpart by not lodging the complain on one side and at the same time leaking the unethical behavior of WK to the public.
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Dr Laksiri Fernando / December 23, 2012
Dr Karunaratne should have answered the questions of the CT or explained why he cannot, as political responsibility or courtesy to CT. He has been a regular writer. But I am not sure whether the CT should have called it ‘intellectual dishonesty’ at least so soon or barred him from writing. Intellectual or otherwise, ‘dishonesty’ is a heavy term to use for anyone directly. The other decision has implications on the freedom of expression in my opinion. Let me add that I have never had any rapport with Dr Karunaratne or any other in his party. If I remember correct, Keerthi Bandara is the person who once (January 2010) distorted my views on the presidential system (saying that I defended the system!) when he interviewed me from the BBC which in fact distorted my views. Then someone called ‘Citizen Somapala’ used it against me for a spicy story even challenging my teaching.
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Senguttuvan / December 23, 2012
I wish to add to Laksiri’s comments. These are days when the regime uses everything it can to muzzle the free expression of thought – something that is definitely detrimental to the democratic process.
Bahu should be given a further chance to make amends and CT should continue to be a welcome forum where a catholicity of views are not merely given space but encouraged no less.
Senguttuvan
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Emil van der Poorten / December 23, 2012
I have serious concerns about something that smacks of censorship and throwing the baby out with the bathwater here. May I suggest that the yardsticks of “intellectual dishonesty and political irresponsibility” be applied without fear or favour to ALL contributors to CT, particularly those who are, very obviously and by their own acknowledgement, spokespersons for the current government?
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Matilda Ellepola / December 23, 2012
Shame on you Bahu… you have fallen into the same league of your buddy the comrade of yesteryear – Waasi-Deva Sahodaraya.
I am with CT as a principle and then we have to apply the same logic to the regime bootlickers like Rajova W and Dayan J as well.
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kamal nissanka / December 23, 2012
I think this is different Emil. CT had some correspondence regarding the matter with WK.. It is important to them because they are journalists as well as Chandana who is involved in BBC, a global media institution.
They have judged as ” dishonesty ‘ I think in the media culture.
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Murali Vallipuranathan / December 23, 2012
I diasagree with your allegation of Dr.Karunaratne of intellectual dishonesty and political irresponsibility. Allegation of intellectual dishonesty can be made only if he has stated lies or contradicted his own stand time to time.Refusing to comment on something you wanted to comment is not amounting to intellectual dishonesty. You have every right to not to publish his column. But you should not make unfair allegations on him because he had not responded the way you expected him to be. I wish you could post my comments with respect to ethics on balanced reporting.
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leel / December 24, 2012
he has contradicted his own stand, his silence prove it beyond any doubt.
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Buvanes / December 23, 2012
Is CT tries to follow MR’s pathway? It is true that they applied loans, but realised it was wrong and opted not to get them. Matter is over. So what is the point of asking Bahu to respond? Both just did a mistake and learnt the lesons and rectified it. CT, you r making mistake. I find only few individuals in politicts are honest, one is Bahu. CT, reconsider ur decision pls.
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Kumar David / December 23, 2012
Look, I guess the truth is something like this: Bandara, or some friends in the NSSP prevailed upon Bahu to intercede on his behalf. Interceding is not all that horrible a crime. Bahu is now very embarassed and does not wish to be drawn in on the matter. By his silence he is leaving us free to draw our conclusions – me for example, in this comment.
Taking into account the importance of Bahu’s role on the national question, and other political matters as well, I think CT should reconsider its decision not to publish his writings. If CT wishes to reprimand Bahu, that’S fine and would be enough.
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Emil van der Poorten / December 23, 2012
Kumar David:
Thank you very much for that. For what it’s worth, I’d like to endorse the sentiments you’ve expressed particularly in view of the fact that CT continuously publishes the likes of Dayan Jayatilleka, Rajiva Wijesinha, Chandraprema etc. whom I wouldn’t classify as the most intellectually honest people around!
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Inoka Ratnayake / December 23, 2012
Is Emil van der Poorten the Anti- Boru commentator? Emil van der Poorten’s Gavator and Anti- Boru’s Gavator are same? Other pages Anti- Boru and here Emil? Why is that?
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Senaka Hetti / December 23, 2012
Well done Inoka for your investigation. You cannot be dishonest while you use internet . Will see what Van der Poorten has to say. :) :) :)
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N. Shanmugaratnam / December 23, 2012
As a regular reader of CT, I fully endorse Kumar David’s and Emil van der Poorten’s views.
N. Shanmugaratnam
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Khema / December 23, 2012
Dr Kumara says interceding not all that horrible a crime. OMG!! so what were you writing all your life? It is about accountability.
In his speech at the Instituteof Chartered Accountants, President Rajapaksa claimed that when he first heard about the alleged wrongdoings of Pradeep Kariyawasam, he took immediate steps to cover things up. When an ‘Ape Miniha’ (Our Man) does something wrong, the President pronounced, the proper response is to ‘quietly cover it up’: “With difficulty I covered it up; shaped it; that is how it is done; for ‘Our Man’; so it was shaped”.
Is Bahu different from Rajapaksa. Its shame! :(
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chamara / December 23, 2012
Then ban Rajpal, Malinda and them as well in all fairness.
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Mahen / December 23, 2012
Bahu is a decent and honest man which is rare in our politics. He had been put in an invidious position which is unfortunate. Rather than lying he had chosen not to comment leaving us to judge him. I think it is too harsh to call him intellectually dishonest.
We muct face the reality. A poor journalist was tempted by an offer he could not resist. From all what I have heard he withdrew himself from accepting the offer. Do we punish someone else who felt pity on him and tried to save his livelihood?
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Safa / December 23, 2012
I too think that WB should be heard. He may or maynot be guilty but his voice needs to be heard. In the past he has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the poor and oppressed. His good far outweigh his minor faults.
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Jayantha / December 23, 2012
I too agree with Comments from Safa, Mahen, Chamara, Kumar David and all the others who speak Good of Bahu.
Therefore I kindly request CT to read what I have written below to decide WHO IS THE REAL CULPRIT HERE. BAHU WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP HIS FRIEND PRIYANTHA, WHO FELL INTO MARA TRAP WITHOUT KNOWING THE GRAVITY.
THEREFORE CT PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ….AND ACCOMODATE BAHU IN YOUR NEWSLETTERS.
First I want to know if this is President’s Mother’s money…..that he give Interest Free Car allowance and Free Laptops to Reportes…..
It is a common sence now…. that the President Knew that the CJ impeachment is on it’s way….and wanted to prepare the Media to give him a favourable opinioin on this. So he actually BRIBED THE media personnel by this laptops and cars……….and some free media people like BBC fell into that trap which at that moment they never knew about the CJ impeachment business………..and only after fallen they saw the gravity.
So Priyantha would have called Bahu for help.
But the general public and some of these respondants forget to see the root cause of this whole issue…….which is this Vicious MARA.
Also read the following……
1)President has no business to put his arm around ex CJ Sarath N. Silva in a funeral home…..(where he had not spoken with SNS for months and SNS has avoided MR)….. and take a photograph and published in newspaper fronts.
2)President has no business to put his arm around John Amaratunge (where JA was invited to dinner at speaker’s house) and published in newspapers.
3) Similarly taking photos with Gaddafi (dead),….CJ on son’s law graduation, taking dance troops on tours, cutouts all over Sri Lanka…..what all these means….other than suffring from inferior complex.
4)President cut off Rs 2 million fund given free by UNDP for Lawyers annual 2012 convention
5) President bribed over 100 opposition MP’s to cross over.
6) Going recently to hospital to see UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena…..and also Wijayadasa Rajapakse’s house and putting photos in the news media.
I could write more……but
I will guarantee that Ranil W. never called MARA on Mangala Samaraweera’s case. Infact it is MARA who could have called Ranil to find out about this and made a story. Ranil is not that of a Cowed to tell all these to MARA…..as RW is a different breed. Please read all the GOVT newspapers and TV news and listen yourselves to all these lies. MARA is just a Hambantota Rukada (Muppet) Joker….with full of lies ….and a deceiver.He is nothing but a POISON. Only it takes time for one to understand his internal organs…….and many times it could be too late.
But…But….The CJ and the Judiciary will teach him and 117 plus Seven.. the unforgettable lesson……Wait for surprises.
THEREFORE PLEASE READERS AND THE COMMENTATORS…..DON’T BELIEVE HAMBANTOTA COMMEDY RUKADA MUPPET JOKER….Think deep…..and
CT…please accomodate BAHU in your newsletters. Thank You.
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leel / December 24, 2012
“I will guarantee that Ranil W. never called MARA on Mangala Samaraweera’s case. Infact it is MARA who could have called Ranil to find out about this and made a story. Ranil is not that of a Cowed to tell all these to MARA…..as RW is a different breed.”
Then why this MaRA’s stooge RW is silent. there is something true to this story
Yes, RW is a different breed of cowardice.
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Jayantha / December 24, 2012
leel,
The conversation went like this…
1)MR called RW to inquire about this Mangala CW issue…
2)RW was not available to come to phone….
3)MR leaves a message for RW to call him back…
4)RW calls MR…..
5)MR asked about the Mangala CW issue from RW
6)RW didn’t give a proper answer….and may be RW did not know what MR knew.
7) MR made the story saying… RW CALLED HIM about this issue to his Ministers and MP’s…
8)RW could have just scoffed off on this MR’s comment ….knowing MR’s character.
It takes long time for novice guys like you leel to understand MARA’s POLITICS……..
All this come to conclution that MR spends more time on spying opposition parties and to save his seat by deceiving everybody….than working for the country and the people who brought him to power.
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babsy / December 23, 2012
How disappointing to know the so called honest politician who had represented the working class behaving like this with responding to queries. He simply does not want to reply or maybe absconding out of shame. Either way this shows that he is up to something.
However, Bahu unlike the old dead left had been an outspoken person with regard to other national issues pertaining to democracy and its such a shame that he had to loose his integrity in this manner.
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Janaka Fernando / December 23, 2012
I visit CT especially looking for Dr. Vickramabahu’s Columns. Intellectual dishonesty or political irresponsibility or whatever you call it is a matter to be sorted out between CT and Dr. VK as a separate issue. Depriving the readers from access to Dr. Vickramabahu’s wonderful articles with alternative opinion which is very rare in the SL media is not at all fair.
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Ranjith Amarasinghe / December 23, 2012
I havnt followed the story closely.Assuming the correctness of the position expressed by CT, I too think that Bahu should have responded.But whether it is a crime that warrants the penalty suggested is questionable.Even after having the door of CT shut,I am sure Bahu will continue to have many other avenues open to him, for he has earned a standing in our society which make his views worthy of being given space for expression.Shutting him out is unwise and serves no purpose other than opening this valuable forum for criticism.
Ranjith Amarasinghe
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kumi suraweera / December 23, 2012
We have enough censorship! Bahu (I am no supporter) may have an acceptable explanations for not responding quickly to CT’s questions. The basis on which CT should carry articles and comment is the intrinsic value of those items. Few of us are free of compromise and blame. If you can carry articles by people like Dayan J and Rajiva W, why the big stick against VB? By the way,I am surprised that CT doesn’t take more trouble to edit some of the cruder comments its bloggers make. Sure, that needs time, but some comments are really pretty obnoxious
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Aloy Perera, Toronto, Canada / December 23, 2012
The poliitical landscape of Sri Lanka is such that even people with diametriclly opposing views may quarrel and argue in broad daylight for the media/public… but at dusk would meet at tamashas sipping scotch and digging into roasted pork chops…..Remember the Island picture (at Chamal’s party) that speaks volumes… with John Amaratunga coyly (almost)leaning against MR’s bosom… and Vimal W., that cesspit with a foul mouth, standing by hopelessly trying to look dignified … almost on the day of the greatest travesty of justice in SL’s parliamentary system, PSC finding CJ guilty…..(notwithstanding the fact that MR and John are bosom buddies in private life)… So, where’s morality? Yes, this is the political culture we inherited from the colonial days…
If you have any problem with the MR government, you also can go to Ranil W. or John A. or any other influential buddy of the Regime (party affiliations don’t matter…) and you’ll be taken care of… These politicos do it as a matter of routine and in great style; even writers of stature.. be it Bahu K., Rajiv W., Malinda S., Dayan J. etc… may not be immune to this. Culturally, this is nothing but helping friends in their dire need… This being the reality… Bahu’s seems to me to be venial sin for which he need not be crucified….
I am sure Bahu is still in a pique.. Give him time… He’ll write and explain.. I am certain that Bahu the socialist will not sink to the abysmal depths into which Vaudeva Nanayakkara has sunk.. “intellectual dishonesty” therefore, seems to me, too harsh a term re. Bahu, given the obvious circumstances of the questions at issue.
Bahu’s valuable contributions can still enlighten an ignorant politically and culturally servile electorate; now that CT has expressed its unmitigated stance on ethics its contributors have to abide by,I am just wondering if CT should maintain its firm commitment to the free flow of ideas and put this Bahu’s matter in the back-burner….
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M Y Foote / December 23, 2012
CT please don’t be “judgmental”! We the readers would like to make the call and decide if for “reasons of intellectual dishonesty and political irresponsibility” we ought to stop reading him.
Please let us give him the space to be himself. If he is what you claim he is, he will fade away both politically and intellectually.
Please remember we may not agree with him, but we shall defend his right to say what he has to say, irrespective of the quality of content and thought. ( Quote drawn from R W Emerson)
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bahu / December 23, 2012
thanks let the time resolve
bahu
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Sanjaya - / December 23, 2012
Smell a rat, Dr Bahu did you call Ranil or not? Answer CT questions. I had some respect after seen your answer I think you are intellectually dishonest and politically irresponsible. I think CT is correct.
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Chhotiya / December 24, 2012
What the fuck this Bahu guy is talking about? he says let the time resolve. What is that? Answer the questions and make your name clear. even you answer we know who you are, but at least CT has give you a chance to prove whether you are corrupt or not.
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Nimal De Silva / December 24, 2012
This is not Bahu you idiots, its an imposter.
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dayapala / December 23, 2012
Yes! Time will resolve if we really come to know what happened to the funds that your comrade has been collecting in London-also come-on bahu you are seasoned politician don’t shy away with escapist answers – Daya
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LK Perera / December 23, 2012
There are a lot of sensible comments giving a broader perspective on not only what “bahu” did but the background developments as well. And I’m a small man without a name and no affiliations with NSSP or Bahu, but I trust CT would not ignore my questions.
Hasn’t CT pushed itself into a corner with this? Now it has taken this decision with justifications and a conclusion that is a dead end,meaning even if bahu answers and admits, according to the CT’s statement above, at least it is not clear they would publish Bahu’s writings thereafter.
Has CT adhered to due process CT has committed itself?
Why is not at least a “suspension” of his column and his writings until he provides answers and have a debate?
Does CT send out similar lists of questions to other contributors to verify their characteristics (intellectual dishonesty etc;) CT claims Bahu doesn’t have?
If CT has already done that, is it possible to share them with the readers?
And if not, does CT intend doing that as a regular policy and let the readers and contributors know upon which standards and principles, as a web based media outlet, they are going to be based on?
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Asanga M / December 23, 2012
What this man is talking about? Haven’t you read CT policies published in elsewhere? That is what I did the very first day when my uncle recommend this web to me. Talk this subject. Haven’t you seen the Dr Bahu’s reply? Shame on you Bahu. I though you are a man with principles.
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douglas / December 23, 2012
Good decision by CT.
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Jayantha / December 23, 2012
The latest I herd was President is planning to give away Brand new Mercedes Benz cars to Judges and Senior Lawyers in Bar association.
What do you think he plans to do other than to break the unity among JSA members.
Await for further news.
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Peter / December 25, 2012
If this does happen the recipients should all auction the vehicles and donate the proceeds to a worthy cause just to show the briber what they think of his ‘gifts’
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / December 23, 2012
Reading the many comments above, on the issue of Wikramabahu’s “suspension” from the forum, I gather that the fairer and more balanced, rational opinion-makers are of the collective view that Colombo Telegraph should keep its doors open to him to post also.
That way, the readers’ choices remain wide, opinions remain diverse, and debate can remain lively. Honesty in this age of humbug of epidemic proportions is somewhat like the proverbial pin in a haystack of spin and ulterior motives.
Lets hope that saner counsel prevails in this matter!
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Iqbal / December 23, 2012
No doubt CT took a decisive step on a matter of principle. WK is an honourable man and he put himself in a very difficult situation. He should have come clean on his action and explained why he had to side step from his established reputation.
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barack / December 23, 2012
CT SHOULD RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION UPON DR.WK……….HE IS ONE OF V RARE MARXIST IN SRI LANKA…………
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