{"id":241206,"date":"2025-03-10T14:09:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T08:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=241206"},"modified":"2025-03-24T02:30:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T21:00:19","slug":"damage-control-by-uncles-daily-mirror-after-ranils-shameful-al-jazeera-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/damage-control-by-uncles-daily-mirror-after-ranils-shameful-al-jazeera-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Damage Control By Uncle\u2019s \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 After Ranil\u2019s Shameful Al Jazeera Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p3\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><b>By <\/b><\/span><span class=\"s3\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><b><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s=Amrit+Muttukumaru\">Amrit Muttukumaru<\/a> &#8211;<\/b><\/span><b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_142887\" style=\"width: 154px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-142887\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-142887\" src=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Amrit-Muttukumaru-144x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"144\" height=\"150\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-142887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amrit Muttukumaru<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p6\">Mehdi Hasan the host of <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/video-ranil-wickremesinghes-interview-with-al-jazeera\/\">Al Jazeera \u2018Head to Head\u2019<\/a><\/span> no holds barred interview of five time Prime Minister and one time Executive President Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) gave an object lesson to our media owners and journalists of how an interview should be conducted.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>RW has rarely been exposed to pointed \/incisive interviews. Even in a Deutsche Welle (German TV) interview in 2023 the interviewer being too \u2018soft\u2019 allowed RW to prevaricate by his signature rude and bullying tactics. The same tactic did not work with Mehdi Hasan.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FLTE5Db7L60?si=KHdXJ3nKoS_kk_Ex\" width=\"900\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">Mehdi Hasan.apart from his Al Jazeera duties is\/was a MSNBC presenter, columnist for the British daily \u2018The Guardian\u2019 and political editor of the UK edition of \u2018The Huffington Post\u2019. He is a graduate of Oxford University.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">Although it takes nothing away from RW\u2019s horrific demeanor and response to questions, it must be said that Mehdi Hasan erred by ignoring killings and violence attributed to the LTTE. In this context it must be flagged that a government must be held to a much higher standard and that the LTTE was fighting to address Tamil grievances which still continue despite some sugar coating.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OXJhvhNNHWA?si=cq5GnoLPobHeBRSQ\" width=\"900\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">Is it not a lame excuse for RW to tell the Sri Lanka media that he was short changed by a two hour interview being edited to one hour? Is this not standard practice? Wasn&#8217;t there ample material in the edited broadcast to reflect what really took place?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">Is it not an embarrassment to the country for a worldwide audience to hear a five time Prime Minister and one time Executive President<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>tell an interviewer \u201cyou are going off your head\u201d and \u201cdon\u2019t lose your temper\u201d and at least twice threaten to leave the interview in less than 8 minutes?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><b>RW\u2019s link with \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s3\">Soon after RW\u2019s shameful performance at the interview, he was IMMEDIATELY given free rein in the \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 to distort reality. He was ALLOWED to say anything he pleased without being fact checked.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>His distorted narrative was published with lightning speed<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>in the \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 as its front page lead story on 7 March a day after the 6 March interview which commenced at 5.30PM. The \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 also did not alert its readers of the impending <\/span>Al Jazeera <span class=\"s3\">interview which was in the air for at least a month.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">In this context it must be pointed out that the owner of the \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 Ranjit Wijewardene is RW\u2019s maternal uncle (mother\u2019s brother) and that RW gave out of turn appointment to his uncle\u2019s<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>laid-back son Ruwan (first cousin) as his Deputy in the UNP.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><b>SL Media Aids Corruption <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">It\u2019s not for nothing that the Media is referred to as the \u2018Fourth Estate\u2019 along with the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Mehdi Hasan has not only exposed RW but more importantly has embarrassed our journalists and media owners most of whom either due to vested interests or cowardice refuse to NAME AND SHAME corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, professionals and business personalities and hold them accountable. It is mainly due to this that corruption and abuse thrives in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">The full might of the media and other vested interests will be brought to bear on anyone who dares to step out of line. It includes being blacklisted by the mainstream media and mercilessly hounded without a \u2018Right of Reply\u2019.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In some instances the harassment extends to trumped-up \u2018defamation\u2019 cases which inevitably end by those filing such cases shamelessly INITIATING a settlement. This can be amply substantiated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s3\">The inaugural Chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) and its Press Complaints Commission (PCCSL) with its farcical \u2018self regulation\u2019 was Ranjit Wijewardene. He is also the owner\/chairman of Wijeya Newspapers Limited (WNL) which is by far the largest\/most influential t print media company in the country which publishes a host of English and Sinhala language newspapers \/magazines including<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 and \u2018The Sunday Times\u2019. <\/span>The Editor of \u2018The Sunday Times\u2019 <span class=\"s3\">Sinha Ratnatunga<i> <\/i>is also<i> <\/i><\/span>PCCSL Deputy Chairman. In simple words anyone having a complaint<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>against \u2018The Sunday Times\u2019 has to complain to <span class=\"s3\">Ratnatunga about Ratnatunga! <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s3\">I state with responsibility that Ratnatunga blatantly PLAGIARIZED an article sent by me.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>After not publishing it, he wrote an EDITORIAL captioned <\/span>&#8216;Tsunami Effect&#8217; which was not only based on my article but also included some identical\u00a0sentences from it. I challenge him to DENY this.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\">This is only the <span class=\"s3\">tip of the iceberg of the corruption\/abuse in WNL.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><b>Some aspects of the Al Jazeera Interview<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s3\">1) RW in some instances childishly refused to answer questions and in some others such as<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><span class=\"s5\">Batalanda<\/span><span class=\"s3\"> resorted to blanket denials. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s3\">2) RW alleged that two of the panelists had <\/span><span class=\"s6\">\u201cpro-LTTE stances\u201d. He did not state this at the interview.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s5\">3)<\/span><span class=\"s6\"> RW alleged \u201cI was informed that Human Rights Lawyer and Former Commissioner of Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Ambika Sathkunanathan will participate in the interview. I was happy as I have known her, though our ideologies were different. However I found out that there were two other panelists instead of Ms. Sathkunanathan.\u201d In the public interest should not Ms. Sathkunanathan clarify this and if RW is correct state why she was not present? She has so far been silent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s5\">4) RW alleged &#8220;I was asked about the happenings during the reign of the Rajapaksas. I said I was not in power then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">Did not Mehdi Hasan\u2019s question relate to why he did not take appropriate action when he had the opportunity as President? Should not \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 have fact checked him?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s5\">5) \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 did not fact check RW\u2019s assertion \u201cIn my country, it&#8217;s the attorney general, who is not a political figure, who decides on prosecution\u201d.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He gave the impression that the AG<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>is INDEPENDENT of the government.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s5\">Should not the \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 have clarified that the Attorney General\u2019s Department headed by the AG is a government department and that the AG who is the <\/span>Public Prosecutor<span class=\"s5\"> is the government\u2019s chief legal adviser?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">6) Should not the \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 have fact checked the assertion of panelist Madura Rasaratnam that RW \u201dhad a golden opportunity on the back of the momentum<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>of those protests to really go for system change and instead what he did was to put the show back on the road\u201d?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s6\">7) On issues relating to the Easter Sunday bombings which occurred when RW was Prime Minister he alleged that the view of the catholic church was <\/span><span class=\"s5\">\u201call nonsense\u201d and an example of \u201cthe politics of the Catholic Church.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Should not \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 have fact checked him?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Should not the Cardinal clarify this?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s5\">8) RW alleged that \u201cCardinal Malcolm Ranjith is just another religious leader\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s6\">Should not the \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 have fact checked RW and clarified that Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who <\/span><span class=\"s3\">potentially could be a candidate for the PAPACY represents the over 1.3 Billion worldwide Roman Catholics? <\/span><span class=\"s5\">Should not the Cardinal clarify this?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">9) Why did the \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 not fact check RW\u2019s DENIAL of the allegation of panelist Madura Rasaratnam that he was elected President by parliament mainly due to the support of the Rajapaksa controlled SLPP parliamentarians? Was not Rasaratnam spot on?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">10) Why has the \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 ignored RW telling Mehdi Hasan \u201cYou are going off your head\u201d? Is this not shameful for a five time Prime Minister and one time Executive President?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">It is largely the refusal of the media to NAME AND SHAME corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, professionals and business personalities and hold them accountable that contributes to corruption and abuse thriving in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">For example the contentious \u2018Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017\u2019 which further liberalized foreign exchange transactions which in effect is conducive for money laundering if people are so inclined was enacted under the RW led yahapalana government under the watch of a former Governor of the CBSL who in the view of many (particularly elites) is a \u2018gentleman\u2019 and the epitome of propriety.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">This Governor had the\u00a0audacity\u00a0to cite this new Act to\u00a0justify inaction on the Sri Lankan names in the Panama Papers. At this time the yahapalana government had the support of the JVP which is in the forefront of the current NPP government. I state this with full responsibility.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p9\"><span class=\"s3\">I also ask &#8211; <\/span>can anyone engage in corruption without the complicity of professionals \u2013 particularly auditors\/chartered accountants and lawyers?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">In any large organization be it in the public or private sector is not the first line of defense against corruption a chartered accountant who can blow the whistle? Is not the last line of defense an auditor who can also blow the whistle? Lawyers giving advise and preparing legal documents also have a role in combating corruption.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">I state with responsibility that CA Sri Lanka which regulates the audit\/chartered accountancy profession and BASL which regulates the legal profession are corrupt. I challenge them to refute this contention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">I am aware that the standard operating procedure of vested interests is to allege vendetta, personal agenda or other base motives. Do they not appreciate that for practical reasons one has to be SELECTIVE and cannot be expected to be aware or cite every instance of impropriety?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":241182,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2186,46,8,2375],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-241206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colombotelegraph","category-featured-news","category-constitutional-reforms","category-editorial","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Damage Control By Uncle\u2019s \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 After Ranil\u2019s Shameful Al Jazeera Interview - 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\/damage-control-by-uncles-daily-mirror-after-ranils-shameful-al-jazeera-interview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Damage Control By Uncle\u2019s \u2018Daily Mirror\u2019 After Ranil\u2019s Shameful Al Jazeera Interview - 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