Swiss reporter to be deported

Friday, 29 January 2010 16:39

By Roel Raymond

The government has cancelled the visa of a Swiss reporter who was in Sri Lanka to cover the Presidential elections, asking her to leave the country by Monday.

Chief Immigration Controller P.B. Abeykoon speaking to Daily Mirror online said that the visa had been cancelled on the orders of the Director Media of the Information Department. Abeykoon said that he had merely followed instructions and did not know the reason for the cancellation.

Meanwhile the AFP reported that Karin Wenger of Swiss Public Radio had said that she was sent a letter by the Immigration Controller, saying that she must leave the island before Monday and that her application for a media accreditation card had been denied.

She had however already been issued with media accreditation by the Sri Lankan government Department of Information, with the journalist visa valid until Feb 17. 'I fear I have been kicked out for asking uncomfortable questions at a government press conference,' Wenger who is based in New Delhi, told AFP.

A government minister had publicly criticised her for grilling authorities on allegations of irregularities at Tuesday's vote, which was comfortably won by President Mahinda Rajapakse.

A letter sent to her from the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, seen by AFP had stated: 'You are kindly informed to leave the country on or before the 1 February 2010. Please note that you are not entitled to engage in any media activities in Sri Lanka during this period.'

Comments

-25+61#Guest2010-01-29 19:25

Toe our line, or get kicked out !!!!!! A STERN WARNING TO OTHER FOREIGN MEDIA OPERATING IN THE OUNTRY.

-16+70#Guest2010-01-29 19:26

those who seek answers are shown the door. questions are so hard to stomach. some day before the sun sets on mother lanka - we shall all know. Go smell the Tulips Karin. Tis better than the stench you seek.

-9+56#Guest2010-01-29 20:12

In this country no reporter ever asks embarrassing questions from the government.They want only yesmen & ppl who sing hosannas to them.

you broke this rule Karin so u are no more entitled to stay here.

in future only visit countries where journalists are given the freedom to write what they want & criticise the government if they so wish.

-10+62#Guest2010-01-29 20:19

This is only begining of the chinthanya 2 still long way to go even god wont be able to save sri lanka.The right to information denied.

-49+14#Guest2010-01-29 20:32

send the local reporters to Australia christmas island

-42+20#Guest2010-01-29 20:32

no more red carpets for foreign media!

-10+47#Guest2010-01-29 20:54

the beginning of the democracy .

-15+55#Guest2010-01-29 20:57

SL is in a very very sorry state

-106+27#Guest2010-01-29 21:43

Well done. Please dont let the foreign agencies and Ngos even come in to the country. Aljazeera, Channel 4 and Christian orgs should be kicked out.

-4+19#Guest2010-01-29 22:40

Yes, of course mate! There are many 'more deserving people' on this planet who require their attention - the MASSES of this country, do not? Let's grin and bear-up!

-6+19#Guest2010-01-29 22:54

Why? So that both the world and the rest of the country, will not start talking about the truth?

-4+26#Guest2010-01-29 23:56

Please note that this comment by 'purohitha,' should be taken out, as it violates religious beliefs and rights by stating that 'Christian Orgs should be kicked-out.'

-7+25#Guest2010-01-30 01:59

Another sad episode, demonstrated by the government of SL!

-1+7#Guest2010-01-30 12:46

Dear Purohitha, you are free to make any comment against anyone in a democracy, and still be protected by the law. Such rights and privilages are taught by all major religions as well. Sadly, there are a few who pervert the supremacy of the human mind for political and idiological purposes. Dear Purohitha, don't be afraid of those who are different from you. Once you learn to respect all life, you will see things differently, and your life will be much richer. Try it.

-1+5#Guest2010-01-30 16:31

fools like you have destroyed this country. Go back to jungle.

-22+7#Guest2010-01-29 23:18

EU & USA, what can you tell us about this?

-49+11#Guest2010-01-29 23:33

Bravo! These Scandinavians must be chased-out of our country. Once they tried to divide the country - now trying to mislead the world ... well done GOSL!

-28+6#Guest2010-01-30 05:42

Because the rest of the world has nothing better to do than deliberately run a vicious campaign to discredit Sri Lanka?

-6+34#Guest2010-01-30 00:16

Ok "purohitha," senseless talk; but, in that case let all countries deport the millions of Sri Lankans who have settled there! Do not allow any Lankans to visit other countries - the Sri Lankan media too, should not report any foreign news! Then future governments would be free to do whatever they liked, to their people ...

-6+31#Guest2010-01-30 00:33

Is this the 'free media movement,' mentioned in election propaganda?

-4+27#Guest2010-01-30 01:59

Be ready for more!

-5+36#Guest2010-01-30 02:05

'Purohitha,' tell your masters not to go with their begging-bowls to the West, especially to Christian countries!

-1+3#Guest2010-01-30 12:14

Asked to leave the country - for asking a question???
Chinthanaya Ver. 2++
In very near future we should be able to see a journalist presenting a pair of "flying shoes",

-6+1#Guest2010-01-30 12:50

Good, send all these scandinavian journalists home as they are here to report only the follies of the nation and nothing good about us. Hence, they are bias

-2+9#Guest2010-01-30 13:04

If the government is clean , nothing to fear , but with this action , there is something fishy . very soon the truth will comeout

-6+6#Guest2010-01-30 13:07

Purohitha is correct , the friends of MR are the best of democrazy - Iran , Libya , Myanmar , there you get the best of media freedom , so it is correct to follow them .

-2+5#Guest2010-01-30 17:01

Purohitha & Pissu Pusa

U too are indeed two very pissu poosa's. Come out of the dream and try to help the fellow citizens of Sri Lanka. We all together can achieve our goals remeber that

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