{"id":122000,"date":"2014-03-21T03:44:42","date_gmt":"2014-03-20T22:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=122000"},"modified":"2014-03-30T17:38:35","modified_gmt":"2014-03-30T12:08:35","slug":"dhanapala-may-be-influenced-by-large-payment-he-receives-from-dialog-professor-kumar-david","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/dhanapala-may-be-influenced-by-large-payment-he-receives-from-dialog-professor-kumar-david\/","title":{"rendered":"Dhanapala May Be Influenced By Large Payment He Receives From Dialog – Professor Kumar David"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI have thought about Dhanapala\u2019s position quite a bit. Dialog clearly considers him a valuable person and seems to pay him well for his services on the Board. I have no problem with that. However, irrespective of whether I was a member of the Friday Forum, Bolshevik Party or anything else, I would have a problem if a company on whose board I served, engaged in unethical practices.\u201d says Professor Kumar David<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Prof.<\/a>

Prof. Kumar David<\/p><\/div>\n

Commenting under the article ” \u2018Dhanapala\u2019s Position Ethically Untenable\u2019 Says Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan<\/a>“<\/span>, Professor David said; \u201cThe question then is this. Is Dialog engaging in unethical and indefensible practices by illegally blocking Colombo Telegraph and presumably other websites because they open their columns to writers who are anti-government (and others who are pro-government as well)?\u00a0\u00a0 The very posing of the question so explicitly makes obvious the answer. Dialog, and the other Internet service providers who engage in such activities are in violation of the Telecommunication Regulations and it would not be unfair to call them servile political stooges.\u00a0 In Dhanapala\u2019s case this is compounded by the thought in many people\u2019s minds, and I admit in my mind too, that he may be influenced by the apparently large payment he receives for his services on the Board.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jayantha Dhanapala<\/a><\/span>, a prominent member of the Sri Lankan civil society group, the\u00a0Friday Forum<\/a><\/span>, is a member of the board of directors of Dialog Axiata PLC. Dialog one of Sri Lanka\u2019s key telecommunications providers, has been\u00a0surreptitious blocking access<\/a><\/span>\u00a0to Colombo Telegraph, over a period of time.<\/p>\n

Dhanapala, in his communications with Colombo Telegraph uses the word \u2018alleged\u2019, implying that he is not certain if indeed Dialog had blocked Colombo Telegraph.\u00a0 However, our investigations reveal that he had told his friends that he could not access Colombo Telegraph. This was 7-10 days prior to our first communication ( February 17, 2014) with him.\u00a0 The use of the word is inexplicable since Colombo Telegraph provided him with the\u00a0technical report<\/a><\/span>\u00a0which clearly shows that Dialog was indeed blocking Colombo Telegraph.\u00a0 Dhanapala has claimed that he is a\u00a0regular reader of Colombo<\/span> T<\/a>elegraph.\u00a0 As such it would be strange indeed if he, a Director of Dialog, was using another internet service provider to access the site. \u201cIts also quite surprising that he would use the term, \u2018alleged<\/a><\/span>\u2019 to describe the blocking, when neither he, Friday Forum nor Dialog has contested the US State Department\u2019s HR report for 2013, which reports the blocking of CT from Sri Lanka.” Dr.\u00a0Pradeep Jeganathan<\/a><\/span>, told Colombo Telegraph.<\/p>\n

Commenting under the article \u201cJayantha Dhanapala Is A Liar; Caught Lying Over Silence On Colombo Telegraph Blocking<\/a><\/span>\u201d on March 16, \u00a0Professor David said; I was in Sri Lanka till yesterday (15) and just left on a short trip. I can confirm that Mobitel and SLT, both of which I use, started blocking CT last week. Friends who are Dialog users have complained bitterly that Dialog has been doing so for much longer. I tried from their homes \u2013 blocked!\u00a0 I am firmly of the view that anyone who cares about freedom of information and democracy must take a strong, explicit and public stand on this outrage, not so much against websites, but against us the people and our right to access opinions and information.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dialog Axiata PLC\u2019s 2013 annual report\u00a0 is clear that: \u201cThe Board has separate and independent access to the Group\u2019s Senior Management\u2026 ..The directors, especially non-executive directors, have access to independent professional advice in the course of fulfilling their responsibilities, at the Company\u2019s expense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dhanapala is an \u201cIndependent, non-executive\u201d director of Dialog, and would in accordance with company policy, have \u201cindependent access to the group\u2019s senior management,\u201d and also \u201cprofessional advice,\u201d on the legal status of the blocking.<\/p>\n

When contacted for comment on the \u2018aims and objectives\u2019 of the Friday Forum, a prominent member replied that it was committed to supporting the \u201crule of law,\u201d \u201cfreedom of information and expression,\u201d and\u00a0 \u201can independent media.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Colombo Telegraph has no direct information of the quantum of compensation Dialog pays Jayantha Dhanapala, the 2013 annual report of lists an amount in excess of 76 million Rupees, as directors compensation for the entire board of 8 members, who meet 7 times a year.<\/p>\n

Related posts;<\/p>\n

\u2018Dhanapala\u2019s Position Ethically Untenable\u2019 Says Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Sara Says \u2018Dhanapala \u2013 WebBlocking\u2019 Issue Needs To Be Resolved Within The Framework Of Good Governance<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Subtle Business Interests More Damaging Than Anti\u2013Democratic Regime: Dhanapala Should Answer Conflict Of Interest Questions \u2013 Dr. Nirmal Ranjith<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jayantha Dhanapala Is A Liar; Caught Lying Over Silence On Colombo Telegraph Blocking<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jayaratne Says Dhanapala Will Stand By Best Practices, Dhanapala Pussyfoots On Illegal Web Blocking<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Article 19 Slams Ban On Colombo Telegraph Website<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dialog Board Director And Friday Forum Member Jayantha Dhanapala Fails To Stop CT Blockade On Dialog Network<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka Blocks Websites And The President Lies On Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Once Again Colombo Telegraph Blocked; Dialog And Etisalat Tamper DNS Responses<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TRC Blocks Colombo Telegraph, Warns Service Providers To Maintain It\u2019s A \u2018Technical Glitch\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph Blocked, How To Reach Us Now: Sri Lanka Telecom And Mobitel Joins The DPI Club!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lankan Govt. Periodically Blocked Colombo Telegraph In 2013: US Human Rights Report<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

History of Colombo Telegraph blocking<\/strong><\/p>\n

First -December 26, 2011 –\u00a0We are blocked but we will not be stopped<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Second –\u00a0May 8, 2012 –\u00a0Colombo Telegraph Blocked Again<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Third –\u00a0March 29, 2013 \u00a0–\u00a0Sri Lanka Blocks Colombo Telegraph<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong>Selected Tweets: Colombo Telegraph Unblocked<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fourth –\u00a0August 23, 2013 –\u00a0Colombo Telegraph Blocked, How To Reach Us Now: Sri Lanka Telecom And Mobitel Joins The DPI Club!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Fifth – January 07, 2014 –\u00a0Once Again Colombo Telegraph Blocked; Dialog And Etisalat Tamper DNS Responses<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Other attempts\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

October 26, 2012 –\u00a0Colombo Telegraph Was Hacked<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

August 9, 2012\u00a0ColomboTelegraph Password Cracking Attempt Blocked<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Freedom House Report: Freedom On The Net 2012, Sri Lanka Is A Country At Risk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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