Who is telling or not telling the truth?

by R Jayadevan

(September 07, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Sri Lankan and international media reported that an LTTE commander identified as Lt Col Neelawannan was killed by the army in a battle in the north. The only source for the death is from the government media centre. The news was based on the traditional intercepted communication of the LTTE by the state security forces. The death is yet to be acknowledged by the LTTE. The LTTE and its front media are maintaining dumbfounded silence on the story.

Because of the restrictions imposed, the independent media is unable to verify the news and is sourcing it to the government media centre. Bloomburg news is the first media to report the news stated ‘An LTTE commander, identified by rebel radio transmissions as Lieutenant Colonel Neelawannan, was killed during fighting earlier this week, the Media Center for National Security said in a statement on its Web site’.

How credible is this news? When will we get independent confirmation of Lt Col Neelawannans death? In the climate of restrictions imposed on independent media by the government, how could one rely on the speculative news? Neelavan or Nilavan as known in the LTTE circles played an important part in my incarceration by the LTTE in 2005. He needs homage and how could persons like me give that without truly establishing that he has paid the ultimate price of death through legitimate and independent source/s?

God save the media independence in Sri Lanka!
- Sri Lanka Guardian