(September 04, London, Sri Lanka Guardian)The Sri Lankan High Commission in London heded by the retired Supreme Court and International War Crimes Tribunal Judge Nihal Jayasinghe is officially engaged in the Online Petition and Demonstration Campaign undermining its diplomatic role in the United Kingdom.
The Sri Lanka High Commission is engaged in an email campaign against the Channel 4 TV for giving coverage of War Crimes committed by the Sri Lankan army against the Tamils. Under a name of previously unknown British Sri Lankan Forum, the Political Division of the Sri Lanka High Commission in London has invited the extremist Sinhalese and few Tamils linked to the High Commission to participate in the ‘Online Petition & Demonstration Against Channel 4 News-UK’.
Some Sri Lankans have expressed concerns that that the Sri Lanka High Commission’s direct involvement in holding such campaign may be violating the diplomatic rules. The new, unfriendly and the anti-Tamil High Commissioner Nihal Jayasinghe has come under considerable pressure following revelation of his racist stand against the minorities in Sri Lanka.
According to further independent inquiry, Tissa Madewela of the British Sri Lankan Forum is said to be an active member of the anti-Tamil right wing Sinhala Bala Mandalaya headed by its anti-Tamil media campaigner Douglas Wickramaratne. He is said to be working hand in glove with the High Commission with the specific instructions from the Defence Ministry in Colombo.
The email circulated by the High Commissions:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Political Division SLHC London
Date: Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Subject: Online Petition & Demonstration Against Channel 4 News-UK
To:
Forwarded for your information and necessary action please.
Kind regards
W G S Prasanna
Counsellor
Political Division
Sri Lanka High Commission
13 Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU
Tel: 020 7262 1841 ext 240
Fax: 020 7262 7970
----- Original Message -----
From: tissa madawela
To: ACHALA WALPOLA
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:13 AM
Subject: Online Petition & Demonstration Against Channel 4 News-UK
Dear all
Online Petition & Demonstration Against Channel 4 News-UK
Channel 4 news in the UK broadcast unauthenticated video footage, accusing Sri Lankan security forces and the government of war crimes. This alleged incident shown on prime-time TV took the whole world by storm and hugely damaged the reputation of Sri Lanka and our brave forces as well as discrediting the reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes in Sri Lanka.
Therefore, we would like to lodge our displeasure for broadcasting a fake video clip (most probably provided by a pro Tamil Tiger organisation) and request Channel 4 TV to make a public apology OR authenticate the video.
Therefore we kindly request you all to click on the following link and sign the attached petition. Please forward this email around the globe among your family and friends and try to get as many signatures as possible before the 5th September (Saturday) by 09.00am UK time.
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/c4nosl09/petition.html
Demonstrated Against Channel-4 News Fake Video footage
Venue: In front of Channel-4 Television Corporation
124, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2TX
Date: 05th September 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 11.00am - 02.00pm
[Nearest underground station- St.James Park (10mints walk)/ near New Scotland Yard]
We wish to submit the Online petition with all your signatures and a few selected articles about this matter written by fellow Sri Lankans along with the petition, to support our claim.
According to the Office of Communication, Act 2002- chapter-II, Channel 4 has breached the UK broadcasting ethics; therefore we intend to make a complaint (submit a copy of online petition with all signatures and copy of video clip in DVD format as requested by OfCom) and urge an investigation on this incident and to take necessary actions against Channel 4.
Thank you very much
British Sri Lankan Forum (BSLF)
For more info pls contact: slforum.uk@googlemail.com
Janaka-07885973128, Lal-07825325430, Mahinda-07983479821
Asiri-07894791159
The London correspondent is doing a disservice to Sri Lanka in criticizing the High Commissioner. At least he seems to do something benefit his motherland, whereas some previous HCs simply did their time and went home. Some even stopped able persons from defending Sri Lanka on television.
Ch 4 has become a third rate "news service" and must be exposed for what it is.
Post a Comment