{"id":65257,"date":"2012-12-18T13:44:07","date_gmt":"2012-12-18T13:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=65257"},"modified":"2012-12-22T10:43:43","modified_gmt":"2012-12-22T10:43:43","slug":"bbc-pussyfooting-on-takes-from-sl-govt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/bbc-pussyfooting-on-takes-from-sl-govt\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC Pussyfooting On “Takes” From SL Govt’"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Colombo Telegraph<\/a><\/span> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

The BBC World Service has still not issued the press release which has already drafted regarding the misconduct of its journalists in the Sinhala section, a source close to the drafting process told Colombo Telegraph.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Lord Christopher Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trust<\/p><\/div>\n

The issue generated heated debate within the organisation the source further said.<\/p>\n

Two of its journalists, BBC World Service producer\u00a0Chandana Keerthi Bandara<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and the Colombo Reporter\u00a0Elmo Fernando<\/a>,<\/span> applied Rs. 1,200,000\/-each by way of interest free loans from the state banks to purchase cars or vans, where the interest\u00a0will be paid by the Treasury using tax payer money<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 This is part of a Government scheme but the move has been criticised by media rights organisations and the opposition as an attempt to purchase loyalty.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile BBC Sinhala<\/a><\/span> section head Priyath Liyanage last week wrote to the The Nation Editor\u00a0Malinda Seneviratne<\/a><\/span>, stating that \u2018the BBC wishes to make clear that no BBC employee will be accepting car loan from the Sri Lankan government, now or in the future\u2019. Seneviratne, in response, agreed to publish the clarification provided that Liyanage respond to a question of his own: \u2018Has anyone in the BBC applied for such a loan?\u2019\u00a0\u00a0Liyanage responded that in fact some had, indicating\u00a0inter alia<\/em>\u00a0that the original clarification was incomplete and was tantamount to suppression of vital information pertaining to the issue.\u00a0\u00a0The Nation carried the full correspondence (see below) under the title \u2018Factoring integrity into media freedom<\/em>\u2019.<\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph also sent an email to\u00a0BBC World Service Journalist Chandana Keerthi Bandara<\/a><\/span> who has applied the loan before we published our\u00a0first story<\/a><\/span>. We asked him; why did he apply the loan and didn\u2019t he think the loan is a bribe,\u00a0but so far, he has not responded.<\/p>\n

The Nation article;<\/p>\n

Factoring integrity into media freedom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr. Priyath Liyanage, Sinhala Service Editor, BBC World Service, wrote to us regarding the article published on December 2, 2012<\/a><\/span>, with the above title.\u00a0 We wrote back to Mr. Liyanage seeking clarification and he responded with an amended \u2018Letter to the Editor\u2019.\u00a0 We reproduce below the correspondence \u00a0on the subject so that the readers are fully informed.<\/p>\n

To the Editor, the Nation.<\/em><\/p>\n

Regarding the piece by Malinda Seneviratne on Sunday, 02 December,\u00a0 the BBC wishes to make clear that no BBC employee will be accepting car loan from the Sri Lankan government, now or in the future.<\/em><\/p>\n

Priyath Liyanage<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Mr. Liyanage,<\/p>\n

We will carry this clarification, provided you can tell us whether or not any BBC employee has applied for a car loan as per the scheme put in place by the Government, and whether or not any BBC employee accepted free laptops, again according to another Government scheme.<\/p>\n

Malinda Seneviratne
\nEditor, The Nation<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To the Editor, the Nation.<\/p>\n

Regarding the piece by Malinda Seneviratne on Sunday, 02 December,\u00a0 the BBC wishes to make clear that no BBC employee will be accepting car loan from the Sri Lankan government, now or in the future.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Two BBC employees applied for loans under the scheme but they will not be accepting them\u00a0<\/strong>[emphasis ours]\u00a0.<\/strong>\u00a0No BBC employee has accepted any laptops presented by the government.<\/p>\n

Priyath Liyanage<\/p>\n

Related posts;<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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