Bar Association of Sri Lanka to protest against Lasantha Wickramatunga killing

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has organized a protest tomorrow at 1 p.m near the gates of the Supreme Courts complex at Hulftsdorp, against the assassination of their colleague Lasantha Wickrematunge, Attorney-at-Law.

The protestors are to proceed to the BASL head office where the association president is to address the gathering and then participate in the funeral of Mr. Wickrematunge.

All concerned lawyers are invited to participate in the protest against the killing of their dear colleague, the BASL said.

Meanwhile issuing a special statement the BASLunreservedly condemned the ‘brutal killing’ of the Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunge, who was also an Attorney-at-Law and life member of the Association.

“The Bar Association calls upon the Government to take all necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of such acts of brutality and to ensure that all citizens of this country, irrespective of caste, creed and political affiliations have the opportunity to exercise their right to life and liberty without fear, as guaranteed by the Constitution of Sri Lanka,” a special statement issued by BASL stated.

The Bar Association expressed concern over the recent threats to the Free Media and in particular the damage caused to the MTV and Sirasa studio complex in Pannipitiya and called upon the relevant authorities to conduct an impartial and expeditious investigation into these incidents and bring the miscreants to justice.

www.sundaytimes.lk

In defence of Rajandran (Killi) Rajamahendran

The local Talibans have found a new adversary Numero Uno. Forget Velupillai Prabhakaran. Forget Killinochchi. Now the game is to ‘liberate’ Sirasa studios in Depanama, Pannipitiya from the thalaivar Rajendran Rajamahendran, Chairman, Maharaja Group.

The shock of that fateful Black Tuesday is still fresh. It was traumatic – even in Sri Lanka, hardly known for its ‘media freedom’. Vandalising the transmission station of the largest private and independent TV network in any country is no joke. It is far worse than Watergate. If happened in a developed country – never will, perhaps – the government might have been history by now. The culprits were no amateur kudu-Lals, who tried to play havoc at another TV station stupidly unarmed. The self proclaimed ‘jaathika veerayaas’ didn’t leave anything to chance and left only once the mission was fully accomplished.

The anticipated public reaction was sympathy, but sadly that was not what Sirasa TV received. Apart from the niche that showed solidarity, the reaction at large was contentment. Even the state spokesmen were open in their enmity. When requested for a voice cut, a minister, once pet of the same network said to have sheepishly walked out. Even the buddy feared seen with them in public. I am not surprised. That was the level of hostility.

Sad, this hostility is directed towards one individual, who does not deserve it – Rajendran (Killi) Rajamahendran, who the Taliban has unsympathetically has branded as a ‘terrorist symphatiser’.

Sadder, Rajamahendran, according to Taliban, has one prerequisite to be called so. He is a Tamil. Ever thought how easy to link a Tamil with terrorism? For example, when present President Rajapakse, then in opposition, represented the human rights of three slain university students, attached to then illegal and armed JVP, nobody branded him a terrorist sympathiser. I am sure Rajamahendran has never done anything that controversial in his entire life. He is not a politician. He is a respectable law abiding self made businessman – who does nothing but runs his business. Sadly he is a Tamil – and has not dropped the last ‘n’ is his name. Not something Taliban easily forgives.

This brief note is not an attempt of white washing. Still it is essential that we put on record some exemplary contributions of Rajamahendran towards his motherland. Not doing so would be sheer injustice – particularly at this juncture – no matter the risk involved.

One – Cricket. This is the only game Sri Lanka had seriously reached the international status. It would never have been possible, without the outstanding contribution of Rajamahendran as Gamini Dissanayake’s number two in the Cricket Board in early eighties. Dissanayake played the key role in achieving test status, no doubt, but he didn’t do it alone. Not everyone knows who foot the bill of the effort of the achievement.

Two – Sirasa TV. This was the channel which taught us to dream. It was what introduced the phenomenon Super Star – the Alladin’s lamp that made the poor carpenter Ajith Bandara, a millionaire entertainment professional. He is not the only one. There are dozens young boys and girls who made it to the top – all because of Sirasa. It was the channel that discovered the talents of Shihan Mihiranga and Kingsley Ratnayake; that demonstrated what quality TV means.

Then, contrary to popular belief more than 90% of the employees of MBC Network, the owner of Sirasa TV are Sinhalese. This is as good as saying if Sirasa TV is down, they who would be the ones in streets searching for jobs. Not only that. Every strike to Sirasa TV equipment at Depanama is a hit to the dreams of millions of poor TV viewers, who gather around TV sets after completing their exhausting days. Call it poor quality, shallow or whatever – but ‘Ran Depaya’ is the only serious entertainment the poor have in this country. Shutting that down will not make anyone populist.

Three – Tsunami aid. The most difficult phase of a disaster is the immediately aftermath. It was Sirasa TV that came to lend a hand to the millions of victims of the worst disaster Sri Lanka ever knew in its recent history. It was Rajamahendran’s Sirasa TV, not even the government, that collected relief of more than 20 trucks on that difficult hour. They were meant to cover the entire island, not any chosen community. (LTTE abducted two trucks, but that was a different story) No media, including the state owned Rupavahini has ever done such an extraordinary community work.

Has any so called ‘patriot’ who points his/her finger at Rajamahendran made at least one tiny fraction of such a contribution to the motherland?

Barack Obama’s skin colour did not matter when US voters chose him to lead the nation. Should Rajamahendran’s ethnicity should be a barrier to genuinely appreciate the good work that he did? Come on, what century do we live in?

Then, do these ‘patriots’ know that Rajamahendran’s MBC network is the media organisation that makes the biggest financial contribution to the government of Sri Lanka in terms of tax? Even if cooperate and income taxes are ignored Sirasa still pays Rs. 90,000 for every half an hour of ‘Ran Depaya’ – Rs. 360,000 per day and more than Rs. 131 million annually. (I don’t know how much they pay for Shakthi TV and MTV) Isn’t this a fair contribution to the state? Isn’t this the money government uses to fight terrorism?

By the way, who are these ‘patriots’? Aren’t they the same petty minded and racist Weerawansa supporters who never mince words when attacking Sirasa TV? Aren’t these the very people who vandalized the Sirasa billboards in the city? Tell me one single reason why they should be taken seriously.

Then why the hell should the ‘terrorist sympathising’ Sirasa TV is allowed to broadcast the Buddhist sermons from the Temple Trees – our monthly reminder of the virtues of the ‘Upasaka Mahaththaya’ who rules us? Why anybody takes the trouble of vandalising those sophisticated equipment in a TV station? Isn’t revoking the broadcaster’s license a simpler, more straightforward and humane solution? Should everyone in this country behave like Mervin Silvas?

This is the hour of solidarity. This is the exact moment we should join hands to protect Sirasa – and in turn safeguard whatever the leftovers of media freedom in this country.

Sirasa, whatever happens we are always with you!

Join the face book Group ‘Sirasa, whatever happens we are always with you!’, if you care for Media Freedom in Sri Lanka. Show solidarity. This is something that should be above your party politics. Controlling media is the first step of building a dictatorship.

Sirasa today, tomorrow it could be YOU. Keep your eyes OPEN.

Sirasa TV Depanama, Pannipitiya attack: Defence.lk still does not know!!

Today morning, we have heard the nastiest ever attack on the media freedom in Sri Lanka. This is an act no civilized human being will ever approve. The people’s right to know the truth, ironically guaranteed by ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ – the election manifesto of the present regime was seriously challenged by the gundas who took the law to their hands. The only true free electronic media station was attacked and vandalised.

The culprits were not identified. The motives were apparent. Somebody badly wants to silence Sirasa TV. It looks like more people than few frustrated bloggers like A Voice in Colombo, Jathika Chinthana Pravahaya, Namal Udalamatta and, Damith Prasanga would like to see Sirasa down. There are more enemies to media freedom.

Surprisingly, Defence.lk that ‘patriotic’ site runs on public money which gives us live commentaries on the capture of every tiny hamlet in North within no time, still have not heard of the incident, after more than six hours. Probably the web master of Defence.lk does not watch TV. Thoththa babas go to bed early.

Who benefits from burning down Sirasa studios at Depanama, Pannipitya? Who wants Sirasa silenced? I do not think I have to answer those questions.

Sirasa TV specially and Maharaja Group at large were certainly under threat for the last few days. It was just last Friday somebody threw a petrol bomb at the same station. So the Police had a definite responsibility to protect them. Unfortunately this is not an era we can expect politics-free government service.

By the way, someone please wake up those Defence.lk guys. They might be still sleeping.

Sirasa-MTV studious at Depanama LIBERATED!! Another victory for our brave heroes?

An armed group of about 10 to 12 men had forcibly entered the Depanama, Pannipitiya MBC-MTV transmission station, popularly known among SL listeners and viewers as ‘Sirasa’ around 2.00 am and had set the Main Controlling Room (MCR) on fire after vandalizing the whole complex, say media personnel who rushed to the scene when news about the attack got circulated.

The heavily armed group of men who had come with their faces masked, had fired into the complex, assaulted the staff they came upon, while smashing up everything in their way.

Some employees had been badly assaulted while another had been dragged with a pistol held to the head to find where the MCR is, say insiders.

The MCR had been broken up and set on fire before the gang got away, reportedly in a jeep and a van in which they came.

The fire brigade that was rushed to the place had not entered the building to put out the fire as the gang had warned before leaving the place is wired to be blasted.

A bomb disposal squad that subsequently arrived had found the wires pulled around had been fake, to scare off the staff.

They had nevertheless found a grenade that had not gone off, indicating the MCR had been attacked by grenades.

The group, it is said had laid siege for over half an hour to effect maximum damage before making their getaway.

Broadcasting of all MBC FM channels and telecasting of all MTV channels will thus be temporarily disrupted, say MTV sources, adding that alternate arrangements are already underway to begin transmissions.

This MBC-MTV station in Pannipitiya was previously attacked with petrol bombs by an unknown gang on the night of 02nd January for allegedly airing entertainment programmes without carrying programmes to honour the capture of Kilinochchi.

That had very minimal damage caused and was condemned by 04 media organizations.

www.lankadissent.com

Were ‘Dhesha Premi’ gundas behind Sirasa Attack?

The studio complex of Sirasa Media Network at Depanama, Pannipitiya has come under a petrol bomb attack  on Jan. 02nd, reported Lanka Dissent.

Around 10 men, masked and carrying arms, in a white-coloured van had arrived at the facility around 9.00 pm, threatened the security guards and thrown the bomb.

The security guards have lodged a complaint with Maharagama Police on the same night.

Earlier in the day, state media launched a scathing attack on Newsfirst of MTV/MBC, accusing it of not giving enough coverage for the capture of Kilinochchi.

Responding, the radio and television station said their 23-minute long main newscasts of the day allocated 13 minutes on the army’s gaining control of the northern town.