Journalists from virtually every mainstream media in the
country with the exception of the Sunday Times newspaper have accepted laptops and car loans or both from the Rajapaksa regime, a Colombo Telegraph investigation has revealed.
A free Laptop from President to Daily News Editor Rajpal Abeynayake
According to statements made by Media MinisterKeheliya Rambukwella in Parliament during the budget debateon the Media Ministry earlier this month, 496 journalists have been awarded laptops by the Government, proof that the regime is ‘media friendly’. In fact the file is inColombo Telegraph‘s possession indicates that only 403 laptops have in fact been awarded and not all of them to journalists, indicating that the Media Minister has in fact misled the House on the issue.
The Minister’s leaked files now in possession of the Colombo Telegraph prove that only 136 mainstream journalists and 30 provincial correspondents have been awarded laptops by the regime and noted by name. 11 of those provincial correspondents are from the Media Minister’s electorate of Kandy while nine chosen correspondents are from President Rajapaksa’s Hambantota. The other 237 recipients are believed to be Ministerial aides and supporters who cannot be identified as journalists. No explanation can be found for the missing 93 laptops from the Minister’s file.
Several senior editors of newspapers in Sri Lanka have also accepted the interest-free car loans and the free laptop from the Government, the Colombo Telegraph investigation has revealed.
Speaking to the Colombo Telegraph Sunday Times Editor Sinha Ratnatunge said that his news editor had informed him that a letter had arrived informing him that there was a laptop allocated to him. He had been asked to attend a ceremony to receive the laptop, the letter had said. However Ratnatunge said he had decided not to accept the laptop from the Government or attend the ceremony.
It was only Ravaya News Editor Lasantha Ruhunage in writing refused to accept the free laptop.
Colombo Telegraph also spoke with the Editor of The Nation newspaper Malinda Seneviratne who accepted a laptop awarded by the Ministry. Seneviratne said that two laptops had been offered to The Nation. “Two laptops were offered to ‘The Nation’, one was for me. I believe I was one of the last journalists to make use of the offer. The reason is simple. We were short of computers at the time, so I took it and gave it to one of my journalists to use. I even gave the machine entitled to me as the editor to one of my journalists. In fact, I’ve always used my personal laptop for my work,” he told Colombo Telegraph. Asked if there was an ethics issue about accepting the laptops Seneviratne said he did not believe so.
“My company didn’t have a problem with it. I don’t have a problem with it. The only difference it has made is that it has made our work a little bit easier. Indeed, it is one of the many machines we use to write stories criticizing government policy,” he said.
Victor Ivan, Advisory Editor of the Ravaya newspaper said he had not been offered a laptop, but cautioned that the fundamental issue facing the Sri Lankan media was not about material support but freedom. “Giving privileges to selected people or profession is always a bad practice” he added.
After a series of exposures by the Colombo Telegraph about the serious conflict of interest issues and violations of standard journalistic ethics, the BBC World Service ruiled that some of its Sinhala Section journalists have breached journalistic ethics and violated BBC’s code of conduct by applying for interest free vehicle loans offered by the Sri Lankan Government. The BBC has also stated that the staff in breach of the code would be sent for retraining.
The Colombo Telegraph has been unable to reach Media Minster for comment.
We publish below the free laptop list in full;
Chief Editors
1. S Srigajan – Chief Editor – Weerakesari
2. Nisthar Cassim – Chief Editor - Daily and Weekend Financial Times
3. V Thanabalasinghan – Chief Editor - Thinakkural
4. Jatila Vellaboda – Chief Editor – Lakbima
5. Sisira Paranatantri – Chief Editor – Rivira
6. Thushara Gunaratne – Chief Editor – Maubima
7. Narada Nissanka – Chief Editor – Divaina
8. R Sivaraja – Chief Editor – Sudaroli
9. Gamini Jayalath – Chief Editor – Dinamina
10. Dinesh Weeravansa – Chief Editor – Sunday Observer
11. S Thillainathan – Chief Editor – Thinakaran
12. Karunadasa Sooriyarachchi – Chief Editor – Silumina
13. Rajpal Abeynayake – Chief Editor – Daily News
14. T. Seththivelar – Chief Editor – Thinakaran
15. Ariyananda Dombagahawatta – Chief Editor – Irida Lankadeepa
16. R. Prabagan – Chief Editor – Sunday Weerakesari
17. R. Baharthi – Chief Editor – Sunday Thinakkural
18. Mohan Lal Piyadasa - Chief Editor – Irurasa
19. Sundara Nihathamani De Mel – Chief Editor – Lakbima
20. Malinda Seneviratne- Chief Editor – Nation
21. Gamini Sumanasekara – Chief Editor – Irida Divayna
22. Saman Samarakkody – Chief Editor – Randiva
23. Ranga Jayasooriya – Chief Editor – Lakbima News
24. Mahinda Abesundara – Editorial Advisor – Dinamina
25. Jayantha Sri Nissanka – Editor – Ceylon Today / then News editor Lakbima News
News Heads
26. Nilantha Rajendra – Sri FM
27. Priyantha Pradeep Ranasinghe – Sha FM / Hiru FM
28. Lenin Raj – Vektary FM
29. Wasantha Karunaratne – Ran FM
30. Udithamal Hemachandra – Real radio / Kiss / Siyatha FM
31. Sameera Fernando – E FM
32. Mrugayya Indrajith – Sooriyan FM
33. Sachindra Jayesundara – Sun/ Gold FM
34. Bradman Jayaweera – Rangiri Sri Lanka
35. Sidath Mendis – Lak FM
36. Kulasiri Kariyawasam – Neth FM
37. Sashika Jayathilaka – The Buddhist radio/ TV
38. Chamika Janakantha Alwis – Isira radio
39. Shehan Baranage – Derana FM/ TV
40. Swarna Gunawardena – VIP radio
41. Sunesh Rodrigo – TNL rock FM
42. Champika Perera – Max radio
43. Chamila Galewela – Sinha FM
44. Udayajeewa Ekanayake – V FM
45. Chaminda Karunaratne – Swarnavahini
46. Sugath Dharmapriya – Sri TV
47. Sardha Jameel – Den TV
48. Teran Karannagoda – TNL
49. Nilantha Kankanamge – Art TV
50. Saddhamangala Sooriyabandara – CSN
51. Sudeva Hettiarachchi – Hiri TV
52. BAC Abewardena – TV Lanka
Section Directors and Managers
53. Vijaya Dissanayake – Rupavahini
54. NM Raja – Rupavahini
55. Vimukthika Kariyawasam – Rupavahini
56. Mohan Karunaratne – Rupavahini
57. Prasad Dodamgodage – Rupavahini
58. R Kanapathipillay – SLBC
59. Yusuf Noordeen – SLBC
60. Indika Jayaratne – SLBC
61. Thushara Sandanayake – SLBC
62. HSK Perera – ITN
63. GSN Perera – ITN
64. AG Gayan Chinthaka – ITN
65. Hasantha Hettiarachchi – ITN
66. Sanjeewa Edirimanna – ITN
News Editors
67. Sampath Deshapriya – Lakbima
68. Viranjana Herath – Rivira
69. Arthur Wamanan – the Nation
70. Benet Rupasinghe – Maubima
71. Piayasena Disanayake – Divayna Irida
72. Azif Huward – Ceylon Today
73. Naleen Dilruksha – Dinamina
74. Indrani Peiris – Lankadeepa
75. Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe – Lankadeepa Irida
76. Duminda Sanjeewa Balasuriya – Ada
77. Daya Lankapura – Irurasa
78. Chaminda Senaratne – Randiva
Other section heads
79. Wimalanath Weeraratne – Ravaya
80. Nuwan Gankanda – Lakbima
81. Manoj Abedheera – Dinaina
82. Chandrasiri Dodamgoda- Divaina
83. Anura Solamons – Divaina
84. KRP Haran – Thinakural
Cartoonists
85. Tissa Hewavissa - Lankadeepa
86. Dasa Hapuvalana – Lankadeepa
87. Talangama Jayasighe – Lankadeepa
88. Prithi Kannangara – Dinamina
89. Ruwan Tharasvin – Dianamina
90. Janaka Ratnayake – Mawbima
91. MD Weeraratne – Divaina
92. Sujeewa Jayawickkrama – Lakbima
93. Anjana Indrajith – Lakbima
94. Darshana Karunatilake – Lakbima
95. Camilus Perera – Rivira
96. Asanga Indunil – Rivira
97. Awantha Artigala – Daily mirror
98. BB Opatha – Daily News
99. Shantha Weeramuni – Island
100. Udaya Wimalasiri – Island
101. Jeffrey Kelaart - Island
102. SM Jayasekera – Irurasa
Journalists
103. Mangala Radaliyagoda – ITN
104. Surendra Abepala – ITN
105. Vajira Sumedha – Swarnavahini
106. Lakmal sanjeewa – Swarnavahini
107. Sajith Ranasinghe – Swarnavahini
108. AEAN Wijeratne – SLBC
109. Ajith Gamage – Hiru FM
110. Sandamali Apsara – Sri FM
111. Jayasiri Munasinghe – Dinamina
112. Dhanushka Godakumbura – Dinamina
113. Mahinda Aluthgedara – Dinamina
114. Ruwan De Silva – Dinamina
115. Lorenz Selvanayagam – Thinakaran
116. Marlin marikkar – Thinakaran
117. Sunil Daya Alwis – Thinakaran
118. Anura Balasuriya – Divaina
119. Jude Densil Pathiraja – Divaina
120. Dushyantha Samarasena – Lankadeepa
121. Gayan Agalakada – Lankadeepa
122. Panuka Rajapaksa – Lakbima
123. Suranimala Perera – Lakbima
124. Sandun Jayasekara – Daily Mirror
125. Crishty Mahesh De Silva – Rivira
126. Tigo Kugan – Thinakkural
127. A Kanagaraja – Weerakesari
128. Nandana Kehelgamuwa – Maubima
129. Gamunu Vallage – Maubima
130. Keerthi Warnakulasooriya – Divaina
131. Chamara Lakshan Kumara – Irurasa
132. Bulitha Pradeep Kumara – Divaina
133. Nayanaka Ranwella – Rivira
134. Nimal Seneviratna – SLBC
135. Mohan Perera – SLBC
136. Kamal Jayamanna – SLBC
Provincial Journalists
137. K Arzarathnam – Manipai / Lake House
138. C Wimalasurendra – Kanday / Upali Newspapers
139. Kamal Suraweera – Kandy / -
140. Asanka Arambewatta – Kandy / -
141. Gaya Wanniarachchi – Kandy / -
142. Nihal Jayawardena – Kandy /-
143. Shan Seneviratne – Kandy / -
144. AG Wickckramsinha – Kandy / -
145. IPW Polkotuwa – Kandy / Upali Newspapers
146. JL Jayasinghe – Kandy / Lankadeepa
147. Asela Kuruluwnasa – Kandy / Dinamina
148. Herath banda – Kandy/ -
149. MA Fakurdeen – Akkarapattu 4 / Lake House
150. WSKK Justin – Uyanva – Matara /Lake House
151. Edmon Liyange – Matara /-
152. SP Ediwin – Tangalle / Lake House
153. Gamini Obesekara – Polonnaruwa / ITN
154. WGS Nissanka – Polonnaruwa / Dinamina
155. Chaya Wickckrama Surendra – Matara / Rupavahini
156. SM Farook – Badulla / Lake House
157. PHG Kulasiri – Beliatta – Hambantota/ Rupavahini
158. WSA Pakkaja Sankalpa – Matara / ITN
159. RHAR Vydyasekara – Hambantota / Lake House
160. Karunadasa Kottegoda – Hambantota / Upali Newspapers
161. KK Ariyadasa – Hambantota / -
162. Granvil Ratnayake – Hambantota / -
163. DG Jaysundara – Hambantota / -
164. Sanath Gamage – Hambantota / -
165. Wimal Garusinghe – Hambantota/ -
166. KK Dayasena – Hambantota / -
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