{"id":66336,"date":"2012-12-24T13:06:27","date_gmt":"2012-12-24T13:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=66336"},"modified":"2013-01-01T09:32:02","modified_gmt":"2013-01-01T09:32:02","slug":"bbc-editor-uses-bbc-resources-to-cover-up-personal-misconduct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/bbc-editor-uses-bbc-resources-to-cover-up-personal-misconduct\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC Editor Uses BBC Resources To Cover Up Personal Misconduct"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

BBCs Chandana Keerthi Bandara is using BBC resources to defend himself the Colombo Telegraph can exclusively reveal today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Bandara<\/a><\/span> used BBC phone lines yesterday to call several well-known intellectuals urging them not to share Colombo Telegraph stories related to his misconduct as a BBC journalist on Facebook.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Bandara<\/p><\/div>\n

Sunday afternoon as soon as Bandara came to BBC he rang several intellectuals and political commentators around the world requesting that he needed to talk to them and urging them to wait until he finished the programme. (He is the Sunday Editor of the Sinhala Sandeshaya) The move came after after the Colombo Telegraph announced<\/a><\/span> that the leader of the party he belongs to (Nava Sama Samaja Party) Dr.\u00a0Vickramabahu Karunaratne<\/a><\/span>\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>submissions will not be published for reasons of intellectual dishonesty and political irresponsibility with regard to Karunaratne\u2019s attempt to cover up Bandara\u2019s misconduct.<\/p>\n

Sunday afternoon he rang several university teachers and activists both in Sri Lanka and elsewhere and admitted he applied for the government interest-free loans of Rs. 1,200,000\/- from state banks to purchase cars or vans, where the interest will be paid by the Treasury using tax payer money along with some thousand plus applicants. He told them that the government approved the applications of some five hundred journalists. He had raised the question; \u2018why is Colombo Telegraph targeting only BBC journalists?\u2019 He then said they are campaigning for Tamil rights and accused Colombo Telegraph\u2019s journalists of working against them. Naming one journalist who openly associates with Colombo\u00a0Telegraph he said the Leader of the Opposition\u00a0Ranil Wickremasinghe<\/a><\/span> and Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu<\/a><\/span>, the Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives and founder member of the Board of the Sri Lankan chapter of Transparency International are friends of this particular journalist. He further said that this is why both Ranil and Saravanamuttu urged BBC to investigate its misconduct related to applying for this particular loan by its journalist.<\/p>\n

In November 18 the the former head of the BBC Sinhala Service Vasantha Raja said<\/a><\/span>;\u00a0\u201cI see this interest-free motor vehicle loan as a sort of a \u2018bribe\u2019. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s appropriate at all for a BBC journalist to take this. Obviously it will damage their credibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph would like to clarify that we have no hidden agenda against the BBC or its journalists or any other media institution. (Colombo Telegraph the only Sri Lankan media organisation which has participated, talked,\u00a0suggested\u00a0amendments to the draft and\u00a0signed the \u00a0London Statement: Demanding Strong UN Action To Stop The killings Of journalists<\/a><\/span>, the BBC organised at its headquarters.) We see Sri Lankan government scheme\u00a0as an attempt to purchase loyalty of journalists. In Sri Lanka there is ongoing censorship and media suppression.\u00a0\u00a0This includes securing of media institutions by regime loyalists<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0We also hold the view that media is largely corrupt.\u00a0\u00a0We were therefore shocked when we found that BBC journalists also applied for loans. These applicants are signatories to BBC contractual caveats pertaining to integrity, including acceptance of gifts which could compromise independence and objectivity in reporting.<\/p>\n

The question raised by many commentators is that if BBCs journalists have not done anything wrong why did Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne phone the\u00a0Leader of the Opposition and ask him not complain Lord Christopher Patten.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile placing a comment under the article \u2018No More Dr. Vickramabahu\u2019s Columns<\/a><\/span>\u2019 A former professor of the University of Colombo, Dr\u00a0Laksiri Fernando<\/a><\/span> said; \u2018<\/em>If I remember correct, Keerthi Bandara is the person who once (January 2010) distorted my views on the presidential system (saying that I defended the system!) when he interviewed me from the BBC which in fact distorted my views. Then someone called \u2018Citizen Somapala\u2019 used it against me for a spicy story even challenging my teaching.\u2019<\/p>\n

Placing a comment under the same article Dr Karunaratne said; \u2018thanks let the time resolve\u2019 , he did not answer the questions Colombo Telegraph raised.<\/p>\n

Asking for anonymity because he\u00a0didn\u2019t want to be targeted by the \u2018laptop and interest free loan\u2019\u00a0media November 23,\u00a0\u00a0a UNP front line leader<\/a><\/span> said; \u201cLast Sunday (18th<\/sup> Novemr) BBC Sinhala Service Colombo Reporter filed a distorted report on the Opposition Leader\u2019s press conference and attacked him. The BBC didn\u2019t report what the leader said in full and just criticised him for not answering BBC questions. The BBC even failed to report what the questions were.<\/p>\n

Related posts;<\/strong><\/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

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

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