Ranjan is spinning what I told him on the phone- NY Times journo

1 July 2018 01:47 pm - 40 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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South Asia correspondent at The New York Times, Maria Abi-Habib, who had written a controversial article titled ‘How China Got Sri Lanka to Cough Up a Port,’ has rejected claims by Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake and also said the deputy minister is spinning what she told him on the phone.

She was responding to a statement made by Dy Minister Ramanayake that her article was fully based on the B report given by the FCID.

“Interesting because our article is based on many sources & I never tell anyone who my sources are (except my editors). This minister is spinning what I told him on the phone: that I would not help him and didn't want to get involved in political mud slinging. The article speaks for itself,” she tweeted.

She also tweeted; “Not true. As I did with #LKA media representing the govt and JO, I have declined all interviews & told the minister I wouldn’t be involved in his political grandstanding. Article is based on multiple sources & I never reveal identities of sources unless to my editors. Nice try tho.”

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Comments - 40

dana Sunday, 01 July 2018 02:04 PM

ayyo Ranjan via DM Android App

Roshanie Sunday, 01 July 2018 06:19 PM

Ane Ranjan sauwutthu vuna. You must come out with the correct stories. Don’t make up then people lose faith in you.

Cerberus Monday, 02 July 2018 09:35 AM

If at all he should have stated that the report bears out what the CID had already found out! Does not say much for his communication skills!! Level of ministers we have!!

AJ Monday, 02 July 2018 09:59 AM

Ranjan is trying to make a cartoon out of the future of the our country. What a bankrupt politician.

mike Monday, 02 July 2018 01:52 PM

after all this fiasco now MR has yet again come out on top. seems author /Ranjan all left with pants down. he he

Sharon Sunday, 01 July 2018 02:49 PM

Ranja becomes Gonja AGAIN....... :)

JANITHA Monday, 02 July 2018 09:06 AM

SHE ADMITS THAT SHE SPOKE TO RANJAN. WHAT RANJAN MEANT WAS THAT THE INFORMATION SHE GOT FROM CID IS THE CONTENTS OF A B REPORT FILED EARLIER IN COURTS.

Batala Land Boy Sunday, 01 July 2018 03:07 PM

It happens when you live in Batala Land.

Thanos Sunday, 01 July 2018 04:46 PM

I may not agree with everything the NYT publishes but we all can appreciate their journalistic integrity. This is the result of the "1st amendment" of the constitution that protects speech and more than 200 years of free speech in the USA.

Sam NYC Monday, 02 July 2018 07:13 AM

Huh NYT. /WP " integrityLol you must be. Joking or naive. ..check what's their pound of flesh check their sources. If the journo had called Ranjan then what more do you want.

DHA Sunday, 01 July 2018 04:48 PM

We all knew down the line almost most of Ranjan's allegations are not true at all.....Aiyo Ranjan what a shameful moment

Sam Sunday, 01 July 2018 05:02 PM

Ranjan you fool, shame.

Janaka from Matara Sunday, 01 July 2018 05:10 PM

For any politico anywhere in the world spining is an essential skill. To Abi-Habib : just tell is if he is demonstrably lying. In Sri Lanka nobody will be able to bring anybody down for just lying.

amla Sunday, 01 July 2018 06:47 PM

take the contents and not what ranjan said. and tell us if the contents true or false. as per the foreign reporter she had multiple sources confirming the ill gotten money to come to power yet again

dulan Monday, 02 July 2018 10:23 AM

He clearly says he stand by it

Raj Sunday, 01 July 2018 06:47 PM

This journalist is a Christian Arab,they are encouraged to join West’s Spy Agencies and News Medias,probably she got the story from the Indian Spy operatives RAW. It is a funny world,any story that gets into a major news paper has so much impact whether it is true or not.That is the power of the Journalists which is totally wrong.

Observer Sunday, 01 July 2018 06:56 PM

Again, very good example of " fake news"! Just because it's NYT.... get the facts first.

John Monday, 02 July 2018 09:11 AM

They did get the facts, you just don't like it!

sach Monday, 02 July 2018 01:50 PM

NYtimes had quoted ITN

Ajith Sunday, 01 July 2018 07:10 PM

Cant MR or the GOSL take legal action against Maria and NYT and force them to reveal her sources or NYT to take down the article ?

Common Man Monday, 02 July 2018 11:24 AM

They can if they actually didn't get the money, I don't see anyone trying so and so :D

Dr.Siri Sunday, 01 July 2018 07:45 PM

When the information is from multiple sources and the Editor is aware of the publication, how could it be a false information. Ranjan needs to be commended to have highlighted the issue.

JohnnyBatta Sunday, 01 July 2018 08:47 PM

Ranjan must be trying to send a white van to NY right now

Samanmalee Sunday, 01 July 2018 09:01 PM

The NYT article clearly accuses MR of illegal activity.If he is inoccent he could easily take the NYT to court and get millions of $ in damages.But we all know that he won't, and we all know why.

Baron Baaron Sunday, 01 July 2018 09:42 PM

Ms. Maria, forget what Ranjan said. Tell us whether you STAND BY YOUR REPORT that its contents are true and your editors stand by your report. You don't have to reveal your sources. Tell us loudly that you WILL NOT WITHDRAW your report under pressure from anyone. That will certify your integrity and integrity of your newspaper.

John Monday, 02 July 2018 09:13 AM

The NYT and their journalist made it clear what they thought when they published.They don't have to respond to bullying demands like yours.If you are so insistent, do your own homework, find your own sources, and prove it wrong.

Buddhist Sunday, 01 July 2018 11:11 PM

Whether Ranjan told the truth or not, the fact remains that Mahinda got money from Chinese, and this has to be fully investigated and taken before courts.

Ananda Seneviratne Monday, 02 July 2018 12:42 AM

Someone may have translated English to this stupid Ranjan. What a joker!, Wear a shirt and behave like an decent man first of all.

Mevan Monday, 02 July 2018 03:21 AM

This NYT journalist seems to be unaware of Ranjan's track record in exposing corruptions of MR regime. The spinning of Ranjan pales into insignificance when compared spinnings of MR and his family and goons.

Wings Monday, 02 July 2018 04:38 AM

No respected scribe will give source of information. Lasantha the great investigative journo we had,had all the facts and was about to expose the MIG deal .Before details surfaced he was killed by Hitler's ghost

Nilame Monday, 02 July 2018 09:11 AM

This fellow is an exhibitor and always seeking media attention. make sure ,next time ,come with the facts which can be proven before having a drama on media.

Sandy Monday, 02 July 2018 09:25 AM

Haha.. He's a shameless politician. I dont believe MR is perfect and pure, but such allegations should be done after a proper investigation such as bond scam.

Jude Monday, 02 July 2018 10:02 AM

Gone are the days professional journalism exist!! Nowadays journalists want to be heros!!??! NYT and Maria going after readership and advertising revenue thus making news articles to create a buzz !!??

Joserph Monday, 02 July 2018 10:06 AM

If I am right what the journalist is denying is that she did not divulge the source as Ranjan claims, and not the contents of the story,

Lara Monday, 02 July 2018 11:26 AM

Having no brain is ok I guess. But having no shame can't be excused.

Jiff Monday, 02 July 2018 11:26 AM

Having stupid actors like this in parliament and expecting the economy to grow is really an irony.

Harini Monday, 02 July 2018 03:48 PM

Don't worry @Jiff. We also have Ravi, Mangala, Eran and Dr.Harsha in parliament. Only a matter of days before our economy soars as it has done under their fantastic guidance over the last 3 years.

w.p.s.weerawardana Monday, 02 July 2018 11:40 AM

dear ranjan, they are amarican, very impartial, not like srilankan. don,t give them mad ideas which are completly new to them.

jaykay Monday, 02 July 2018 04:09 PM

The article published in NYT is not to read and put on the trash bin - It revealed important information of executive power misuse of rajapakse regime - There is nothing wrong clarifying it to bring this guy to justice. At least Rajan is take it up - the local media organizations like SISARA, HIRU, ADE DERENA are SLEEPING - They are good to broadcast gossips.

Suneth Perera Monday, 02 July 2018 04:15 PM

So without disclosing sources how can a person take legal action.

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Ranjan is spinning what I told him on the phone- NY Times journo

Comments - 40

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