{"id":65725,"date":"2012-12-21T08:35:23","date_gmt":"2012-12-21T08:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=65725"},"modified":"2013-01-01T15:33:27","modified_gmt":"2013-01-01T15:33:27","slug":"left-right-collusion-socialist-bahu-called-capitalist-ranil-and-urged-not-to-expose-bbc-misconduct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/left-right-collusion-socialist-bahu-called-capitalist-ranil-and-urged-not-to-expose-bbc-misconduct\/","title":{"rendered":"Left-Right Collusion: Socialist Bahu Called Capitalist Ranil And Urged Not To Expose BBC Misconduct"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne<\/a><\/span>\u00a0phoned the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe<\/a><\/span> and urged him not to write to\u00a0Lord Christopher Patten<\/a><\/span>, Chairman of the BBC Trust, regarding misconduct of its journalists, the Colombo Telegraph can exclusively reveal today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Bahu and Ranil<\/p><\/div>\n

Karunaratne phoned Dr Roger Srivasan, the immediate past president of the UNP\u2019s UK Branch stating that he couldn\u2019t get through to BBCs Chandana Keerthi Bandara<\/a><\/span> and requesting that Srivasan tell Bandara that he, Karunaratne had contacted Wickremesinghe\u00a0regarding the matter.\u00a0\u00a0When questioned Dr Roger told Colombo Telegraph that he didn\u2019t know what the message was about, but passed the message to Bandara.<\/p>\n

Two BBC journalists, BBC World Service producer Chandana Keerthi Bandara and the Colombo Reporter Elmo Fernando<\/a><\/span>, applied for interest-free loans of Rs. 1,200,000\/-each from state banks to purchase cars or vans, where the interest will be paid by the Treasury using tax payer money.\u00a0\u00a0This is part of a Government scheme, a move criticised by media rights organisations and the opposition as an attempt to purchase loyalty.<\/p>\n

Talking exclusively to Colombo Telegraph Opposition UNP Leader\u00a0Ranil Wickremesinghe\u00a0said<\/a><\/span> November 23\u00a0\u00a0that he is writing to Lord Christopher Patten, Chairman of the BBC Trust regarding the misconduct of its journalists.\u00a0\u201cThe BBC must investigate its journalists for this and it is clearly a violation of its principles; I \u2018m writing this to Lord Christopher Patten and will also table the letter in Parliament,\u201d the leader of the opposition said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Roger, Chamal, Nimal And Ranil<\/p><\/div>\n

Colombo Telegraph learnt that leftists Nava Sama Samaja Party leader Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne\u00a0phoned Ranil Wickremesinghe urging him not to write. We are not clear on what grounds he made this request.\u00a0\u00a0We assume that the reason is the fact that BBC journalists Chandana Keerthi Bandara is a member of his party.<\/p>\n

The day before yesterday (December 18) Colombo Telegraph sent an email to Karunaratne asking whether he phoned Wickremesinghe\u00a0\u00a0or not . We asked him three questions;<\/p>\n

1. We have credible evidence that you talked to Ranil Wickemesinghe and urged him to not write Lord Patern regarding BBC journalists applying\u00a0for interest free loans. Why did you do that?<\/p>\n

2. What is your\u00a0opinion\u00a0on your party member, BBC journalist Chandana Keerthi Bandara, applying for this\u00a0interest\u00a0free loan from state bank where the\u00a0treasury paid the\u00a0interest to the\u00a0relevant\u00a0bank using tax payer money?<\/p>\n

3. Don’t you think that this is unethical and amounts to a bribe being given to journalists by the Rajapaksa\u00a0regime?<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t reply and when we sent a mild reminder he replied December 19 th just saying \u201cthanks\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Then we again asked him to answer our questions, he chose not to. When he came on gmail chat and we again reminded him to answer our questions.\u00a0\u00a0He has not so far.\u00a0Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne\u00a0regularly chats with Colombo Telegraph and its journalists.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, he sent us his Wednesday column which the Colombo Telegraph refrained from publishing until he answers our queries.<\/p>\n

The Colombo Telegraph has been unable to reach the Leader of the Opposition for comment. Both his office and home contacts informed us that he is out of the country.<\/p>\n

Last week BBC Sinhala service head Priyath Liyanage<\/a><\/span> tried to mislead the Nation editor Malinda Seneviratne<\/a><\/span> by sending a clarification on a comment made by Seneviratne on BBC employees seeking to benefit from the aforementioned loan scheme.\u00a0\u00a0Liyanage said that no one from the BBC had obtained such loans and neither would they ever do so. When Seneviratne asked if loans had been applied for, Liyanage admitted that this was indeed the case, effectively demonstrating that he was deliberately concealing information vital to the matter at hand.<\/p>\n

Related posts;<\/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

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

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