The BBC has removed it’s Sinhala Service programme on the investigative report by former BBC correspondent in Colombo Frances Harrison. Writing to Colombo Telegraph the BBC said; “There was a serious editorial lapse in a programme on the BBC Sinhala Service on Friday 8 November.
Frances Harrison
Responding to Colombo Telegraph story BBC Sinhala Head Suspended: Non Sinhala Bosses Appointed, Liyanage’s Reports On Frances Harison’s Documentary Removed From BBC Web , the BBC World Service spokesman Paul Rasmussen said; “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 didn’t deny our story. We wrote yesterday;
Head of the BBC Sinhala Service, Priyath Liyanage, has been suspended, the Colombo Telegraph can exclusively reveal today.
A non-Sinhala outsider has been specially appointed to look after all BBC Sinhala Service activities for the first time of its history and the Sinhala Service staff has been informed about Priyath Liyanage’s suspension in writing, the Colombo Telegraph learns.
Unprecedentedly, the BBC Sinhala Service reporters have been asked to translate all their reports into English to be checked by higher authorities.
The Colombo Telegraph sent an email to the BBC Press office [worldservice.press@bbc.co.uk] asking several questions related to the suspension of its head of Sinhala Service. Strangely, the message we received said: “Delivery has failed”.
Early this year the BBC Sinhala head was sent to follow a BBC course on Journalistic ethics after he was caught giving letters of recommendation to Sri Lanka government to approve interest free loans to his deputy Chandana Keerthi Bandara and to the Colombo reporter Elmo Fernando.
Colombo Telegraph reliably learns that the Sandesya programs related to Frances Harrison‘s recent BBC documentary on Sri Lanka have been removed from the BBC website after investigations.
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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’
John / November 18, 2013
BBC hypocrites working on their own agenda,not a free press, no journalistic freedom, a mad house only.
Britons should practice what they preach to others.
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Ben Hurling / November 18, 2013
When will they fire Frances Harrison for her unceasing Sri Lanka bashing for many years now?
Cheers!
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wadepiya / November 18, 2013
She is not with the BBC any more. If I am correctly informed. Harrison works for AI now, I am told.
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Burning_Issue / November 18, 2013
Ben,
Grow up please. If Sri Lanka gets it’s act together she will focus on something else!
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DJ / November 18, 2013
Getting the act together or not doesn’t matter here, these guys will not cease their way of life till Sri Lanka is a lap dog for the West.
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Thiru / November 18, 2013
The BBC Sinhala service staff must have been economical with the truth in their reporting, I am sure. It comes to them naturally, as for many Sinhala ‘intellectuals’, and of course for the master juggler of the truth, the Sri Lanka government.
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Ben Hurling / November 18, 2013
Thiru
Are Tamils any different in that department?
Cheers!
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J.Muthu / November 18, 2013
Spot on thiru, all Sinhala united on tamil suffering. They fools lazy lot…..top never work….
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EastHamBoy / November 18, 2013
“The BBC Sinhala service staff must have been economical with the truth in their reporting, I am sure.”
@Thiru
I just checked the BBC Sinhala website– It’s in Sinhala, I cannot understand a word of what they say.
Do you have any previous examples of where the BBC Sinhala has been “Economical with the truth”?
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Thiru / November 18, 2013
I am going simply by the logic, I don’t know much Sinhala either – the sob SWRD stopped me from learning it from standard 5 onwards.
If an impartial investigation by the BBC has found its Sinhala service reports wanting in truth, then we take it was correct.
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Banana / November 18, 2013
This Lady has an agenda and needs to be exposed. Even went to the extent of praising the LTTE’s “Johnny Batta” landmines as quite innovative.
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Thiru / November 18, 2013
You have indecently exposed many Tamil ladies like Isaipiriya, now do you want to expose a suddha lady? Try your luck!
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Raja / November 18, 2013
Today the sections of the Int Community driven by the LTTE int Emigre propaganda arm..Want sri lanka to be punished for war crimes.. When it airs films it blames the entire Government , Armed forces and not Individual isolated incidents.. Last evening i was speaking to a Lady at the Dutch Bugher Union.. She was outraged as how a certain PM’s talk about war crimes.. when she had lost her son during the Battle of Elephant pass.. which fell to the LTTE.. The army declared him as many others as MIA.. As these areas were now under LTTE rule.. And after contacting the Red cross and ICRC.. they Got a reply from the LTTE saying there were no Army personal alive, no personal had surrendered.. They said the ‘ sri lankan army fights to the last man’.. Like SHE POINTED OUT this happened on many many occasions when the Sri Lankan Army lost ground to the LTTE.. Not one Army personal had surrendered.. They were all dead.. ;fights to the last man’ as the LTTE says.. But like someone then pointed out to me.. You just have to see the Old LTTE propaganda footage which the tigers Videoed and sent to Middle class Tamil Emirges to show their success in order to raise money.. You see Sri Lankan soldiers Dead in ditched with no guns’ In some occasions in their shorts and just a t-shirt not eve boots on their feet.. We all know that the LTTE took no prisoners.
So where is the Justice???? and speaking to many many sri lankans Sinhala, Bugher, Muslim and some Tamils who were in the forces who fought the LTTE and the Victims of the suicide Bombings all in one voice saying where was Our Justice.. when our loved ones were captured or died by a suicide attack???? And they have started equally to Hate as one these radical Tamils in the North.. Today these Foreign Governments influenced by LTTE Propaganda are Treating sri lankan Like Germany was treated after world war 1.. the Versailles treaty did not acknowledge the suffering of the German’s and put the blame solely on that nation..which eventually gave rise to NEW radical elements.. And today we see sri lankans Versailles moment when they talk about Justice not even one mention of the LTTE tigers of its True contex and the suffering it cause others.. And only Tamil Northern Suffering we see.
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Thiru / November 18, 2013
Raja raja,
It’s not the LTTE “int Emigre propaganda arm” stupid, it’s the truth haunting you all.
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demon silva / November 18, 2013
Is raja short form for rajapakse
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Director General / November 18, 2013
I thought he has been suspended for being late for work. Now, we’ll have to wait for Pearl Thevanayagam to wake up to confirm the true story.
Frances, where are you…..we have a slight problem with one of our wagon wheels.
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kali / November 19, 2013
Director,
Are you the Director General of “News Blackout”
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Raja / November 18, 2013
What these stupid people are doing is Alienating the majority from True reconciliation.. Today we see Docu drama’s Blaming the entire security forces.. Where many communities had a loved one serving.. not just sinhala, But Bugher, Muslim, and even Tamil.. they have lost their loved ones in the war and sometimes captured by the LTTE and executed.. and the only reply they got is the ‘ Lankan army fights to the death’ I suppose that includes the Injured.. But these films don’t show equally the many many security forces helping tamil civilians, they don’t show the footages of the LTTE holding civilians at gun point, they don’t even show the footage of the Tamil civilians testimony about their ordeal of the LTTE taking them hostage.. They have never shown the LTTE in its true context. And this is what Annoys the Majority of All communities. And this is the danger on the path to True reconciliation.. And most of these voices come from the Bugher community the most liberal of all and who are now turning into more radical forms of politics.. When they hear the radicals saying look we told you that the Int community and the LTTE Emigres only care about the LTTE and condemn your loved ones and does not acknowledge your suffering and made you into criminals.. This is the new danger today.
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Thiru / November 18, 2013
Oh yes, the majority wants true reconciliation? My foot, you want to make Tamils slaves.
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Thiru / November 18, 2013
Did the majority ask for reconciliation after each anti-Tamil pogrom in 1958, 1977 and 1983? Pogrom after pogrom you killed, raped and destroyed their property. You are doing that now too, and talking of reconciliation in the mean time.
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James / November 18, 2013
Raja
The LTTE was a terrorist group… however the issue is now with the Govt of SL .. the problems that exists has to be corrected. I shall not go into the problems as we all know what those are. We must have justics for everyone.. Kuruna / KP and others should also be brought to justice
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sarojini / November 18, 2013
They also blame the army of rape , As someone rightly said it will be difficult to find a single virgin in Jaffna the way it has been potrayed, how girls are being raped by the army , in Jaffna .
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kali / November 19, 2013
Sarojini ( Fat ” Mama”)
Not so long ago you claimed that your father who is Doctor had to learn to Sinhalese to Satisfy the Requirement of being Bilingual in an Sinhala Lanka.
The Leopard never changes its spots and despite your effors to presnt a Civilised face you lot are all the same ” Tamil Bashing”.
What is the connection between what you have written and the Article.
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Native Vedda / November 19, 2013
kali
Tamil bashing is good only when it is based on facts. Sinhala/Buddhist bashing is also good as long as it is based on facts.
Both the Sinhalease and Tamils need regular bashing because both deserve it.
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kali / November 19, 2013
Raja you Sinkalam,
You are out of your mind mate. Alienating the Majority from Reconcilation.
“Where have you been for the last 63 years mate. Have you just landed from another planet.”
Do you understand the meaning of Reconciliation. You need to understand the meaning of ” War Crimes and Genocide and Accountability first before you talk about Reconciliation.
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kris / November 19, 2013
We don’t need any reconciliation with terrorist like you
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kali / November 19, 2013
Kris you Moron
The feeling is mutual. After March 2014 MR will be in the GAGUE,we will be on the other side of the Border and then it will be Sinkalam on Sinkalam ( I mean Black on Black. Have a Good fun.
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Lanka liar / November 24, 2013
In Sri Lanka reconciliation means Re Con ci Lie activation
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Pasel / November 18, 2013
Raja
Keep kissing otherwise your job is going to be next to eliminate by your master also put your own name don’t play with Names such as Raja, chief, minister or put your name as slave
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Candidly / November 18, 2013
Frances Harrison’s “documentary” removed from the BBC’s website? Well, it’s good to see some benefits from exposing this notorious woman’s lies and distortions on behalf of the Tamil Tigers’ terrorists, murderers and organisers of suicide bombing. Remember the American children’s chant about liars in the school playground:
“Liar, liar,your pants are on fire! Your nose is as long as a telephone wire.”
I guess she’ll have to get a job with the UK’s Channel 4 if she wants to get a hearing now.
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demon silva / November 18, 2013
Candidly, You have not understood whats being said in the story. It is not
Frances Harrison’s “documentary” that was removed from the BBC’s website, but it is the SINHALA translation of the documentary. Do you know why? The editor and his assistant who did the translation made a complete mess of it, giving a different take on the documentary by Ms harrison. Whether it was due the the incompetence of the people concerned or it was intentional no one knows at this time. That is why there will be a proper inquiry by the BBC.
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Candidly / November 19, 2013
No, I haven’t misunderstood, just an error in wording. I should have written “The Frances Harrison documentary has been removed…”. It seems the programme’s producer may have got to near exposing the lies and distortions of Ms Harrison and she has used her friends in high places to get him suspended. But let the inquiry deal with the issue first, then we can judge.
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David / November 18, 2013
BBC is not Gota or MR family media, Where ever corrupted guys are working they will spoil whole image of the nation. Sadu Sadu Saa
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Gilbert Abeygoonaratne / November 18, 2013
The worst of enemies can become the best of friends, not by hatred but by dialog and an open mind.We are letting foreign elements to interfere and lay their distorted politically motivated views. Who can better understand than the natives of the land.My generation knew not of racial and religious prejudices , where Sinhalese Muslims Tamils,Burgers,were just mere words,where we lived and loved not through jaundiced eyes ! A noble Sri Lankan gentleman Murali , (Bless him !) so eloquently said “lets not dig in to what happened but lets help to create a better future and to understand!
Yes the time is ripe all atrocities done by no matter whom has to be remembered as a dark chapter in our history.
If all mothers and fathers of Sri Lanka irrespective of their geographical situation were to announce their missing loved ones during this bloody war it will only spotlight the folly and the idiocy of what hate can do. The curse today is foreign interference , our hopes today is the educated younger generation of all ethnic groups where education, love and understanding will form the nucleus of a united and a peaceful Sri Lanka where all our children can proudly say we are all Sri Lankans.
Stop raking the muck, educate the young, teach them the meaning of love & respect, If I can do it you can too !!
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NAK / November 18, 2013
Frances Harrison [Edited out]
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Native Vedda / November 19, 2013
NAK
“Frances Harrison [Edited out]”
Yes go on we are listening.
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EastHamBoy / November 19, 2013
From Wiki –
Frances Harrison is currently unemployed, and has been so since being replaced at Amnesty International, London in 2011 after just 7 months as Head of News.
May be she too can start a fund raising appeal at Kickstarter:
Pledge £3,000 or more – You and 3 guests will get to have dinner with her…..
http://tinyurl.com/c6lcy47
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pearl thevanayagam / November 21, 2013
Strangely, my comment on this story was edited out. Pryath was a victim of in group rivalry since he held an unenviable piosition as the Head of sinhala Service at BBC World Service. He is an innocent victim of those who wnated to step into his shes. . I am sure BBC will serve him justice when all this nonsense of some stage manged coup against him dies down and he is once more re-instated as Head of Sinhala Service.
@Pearl, we have not edited out any of your comments, please check before comment – CT
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Lanka liar / November 24, 2013
BBC Journalist always tell the truth. Why the hell they are running a Sin Ha Lie service
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