{"id":116157,"date":"2013-12-03T05:22:30","date_gmt":"2013-12-02T23:52:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=116157"},"modified":"2013-12-30T19:34:56","modified_gmt":"2013-12-30T14:04:56","slug":"bbc-sinhala-investigations-against-its-head-continues-disgraced-fernando-is-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/bbc-sinhala-investigations-against-its-head-continues-disgraced-fernando-is-back\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC Sinhala Investigations Against Its Head Continues; Disgraced Fernando Is Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

The BBC probe into all aspects of its Sinhala Service’s activities is still proceeding, Colombo Telegraph learns. The BBC Sinhala Service journalists are being asked by the BBC to participate in the ongoing investigation accompanied by lawyers or trade union representatives if they wish.<\/p>\n

\"Farewell<\/a>

Farewell to Elmo in London<\/p><\/div>\n

Following the suspension of BBC Sinhala Service Editor Priyath Liyanage<\/span><\/a> – and, while a rigorous investigation into all Sandeshaya producers’ activities is in progress in London –\u00a0 the BBC has stopped all Sinhala Service’s Sri Lankan reporters\u2019 contributions to the program outright, Colombo Telegraph learns.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, the BBC has recalled a recently retired Colombo reporter, Elmo Fernando<\/span><\/a>, to send dispatches as the service’s sole Sri Lanka contributor. This action seems to have dismayed the London journalists in view of Fernando’s scandalous record trying to obtain a government interest-free car-loan from a state bank in Colombo with Sandesaya editor Priyath Liyanage’s direct support.<\/p>\n

Following Colombo Telegraph’s exposure of this sting, the BBC had to discipline Elmo Fernando, his colleague Chandana Keerthi Bandara<\/span><\/a> and the editor Priyath Liyanage by compelling all three of them to undergo a training program on journalistic ethics.<\/p>\n

Recently, the BBC suspended the Sinhala Service’s editor, Priyath Liyanage in response to a serious complaint from former BBC correspondent in Colombo, Frances Harrison<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Presently, the Sinhala Service is completely under the control of newly appointed authorities from the top and all independent program-making by Sandesaya journalists is being fully curtailed. \u201cThere was a serious editorial lapse in a programme on the BBC Sinhala Service on Friday 8 November. \u00a0\u00a0We have removed the story from our website and are investigating how this happened to ensure nothing similar happens again. \u00a0While this investigation is underway, the Sinhala Service Editor will not be editing the output or managing the team.\u00a0\u00a0 A temporary editor will ensure the service will continue to broadcast.\u201d \u00a0BBC World Service spokesman Paul Rasmussen told Colombo Telegraph last week.<\/p>\n

Related stories;<\/p>\n

Frances Is The Complainant: \u2018Allocating Inappropriate Time To SL Military And Misrepresentation\u2019 Under BBC Investigation!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sinhala Story On Frances Harrison\u2019s BBC Documentary In Question, BBC Confirms Removing Programmes From Its Web<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

BBC Sinhala Head Suspended: Non Sinhala Bosses Appointed, Liyanage\u2019s Reports On Frances Harison\u2019s Documentary Removed From BBC Web<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

BBC Says Applying For GSL Interest Free Loan Is Violation Of Its Code, Sinhala Service Corrupt Journalists To Be Re-Trained On Ethics<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Interest Free Loan Scandal: BBC\u2019s \u00a341,000 Annual Salary Employee Was Favored By Sri Lankan Govt<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Exclusive: BBC\u2019s Londoner Who Applied GoSL\u2019s Interest Free Loan Receives RS 8.5 Million Annual Salary!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Expose: BBC Sinhala Head \u2018Knowingly Mislead\u2019 The Public<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

BBC Editor Uses BBC Resources To Cover Up Personal Misconduct<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

No More Dr. Vickramabahu\u2019s Columns<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Left-Right Collusion: Socialist Bahu Called Capitalist Ranil And Urged Not To Expose BBC Misconduct<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

BBC Pussyfooting On \u201cTakes\u201d From SL Govt\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018BBC World Service Journalist\u2019s Interest-Free Loan Application \u2018On The Waiting List\u2019 Says Sri Lankan Government<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Applying And Receiving An Interest-Free Motor Vehicle Loan Will Damage BBC\u2019s Credibility Says The Former Head<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018It Is A Shame And Very Disappointing, BBC Should Investigate Its Journalists\u2019 \u2013 Says Dr Saravanamuttu<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Exclusive: Investigate Your Journalists! \u2013 Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe To BBC\u2019s Lord Chris Patten<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":116168,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1,6969,2375],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colombotelegraph","category-news","category-popular-stories","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\nBBC Sinhala Investigations Against Its Head Continues; Disgraced Fernando Is Back - Colombo Telegraph<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/bbc-sinhala-investigations-against-its-head-continues-disgraced-fernando-is-back\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BBC Sinhala Investigations Against Its Head Continues; 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