Channel-4 journalist deported

5 June 2012 07:40 am - 89 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Shirani Sabaratnam, who works at the London-based Channel-4 TV Station as an editor and a presenter, arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday. On arrival she was detained at the airport by Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities and later deported to Britain, informed sources said.

The sources alleged that Ms. Sabaratnam, a former LTTE member, had arrived with her British husband from Britain via Dubai on Sunday. Her detention and subsequent deportation was the result of her being blacklisted.

On being questioned by detectives, Ms. Sabaratnam admitted she had used different passports to travel to Sri Lanka’s North both during the war and after the war ended.

Authorities believe that the husband and wife were visiting Sri Lanka to do another documentary critical of the Government.
Ms. Sabaratnam was born at Vaddukoddai in Jaffna and is married to Stuart Cosgrove a director of Channel 4. They are reportedly playing a major role in Diaspora activities against Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Police are looking for the husband of Sabaratnam, Stuart Cosgrove, who is reportedly staying in a luxury hotel in Colombo.

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Comments - 89

Janaki Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:12 PM

Miliion dollar question who issued the visa for Cosgrove to enter SL ?????????This has to be investigated.

Nimal Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:01 PM

This is happening the West as well.What's all the hacking inquiry about?

saradiyal Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:00 PM

In UK “journalists” bribe police, does phone hacking and you call them independent journalists or terrorists...?

saradiyal Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:52 PM

For terrorism, didn't you read the article..? LTTE did not sell banana for 30 years..!

saradiyal Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:45 PM

Well said mate...!

Nimal Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:48 PM

Buffalow just get a life.

TT Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:36 PM

We don't know about this passport. Now she might have UK passport.

Prem Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:33 PM

Different passport does not mean its illegal, some times people hold multiple citizenships and are provided passports from respective countries. Try to differentiate between legal and illegal, right and wrong and all your petty differences will be resolved.

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:32 PM

One of the most ignorant comments I have ever read.

Indeewara Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:31 PM

have those so called Channel 4 media given a time in their broadcast time to show the atrocities by LTTE........to them LTTE is freedom Fighters...& it is OK for them to any murder in the name of freedom,But to GOSL right to protect its people should by done according to British standards,unless otherwise would be called genocide,what about NATO's contribution towards the Mass murders in Libya...all justified in the Name of their standards of Freedom.....

Nimal Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:09 PM

It's up to the SL government to bring law and order to the country,get rid of thugs and corrupt among them and listen to the people and usher true transparent democracy.Then the world would respect us.Western countries talking about SL on war crimes etc must examine themselves where they are doing same in places like Pakistan,Afghanistan.Iraq and various other places.If they can justify their action then so can SL,where SL is fighting a bunch of racist thugs.Surely SL can clean their own country of a menance?

SAMARE Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:12 PM

then what do you call ITN??

Tamil citizen Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:14 PM

Do u know the value of the uk economy mate... Don't play like ww.

Nodrog Tuesday, 05 June 2012 12:05 PM

Speak for yourself Buffaloa and don't generalize because we do have many brave people who were courageous enough to face the LTTE and annihilate them.

Amila.G Tuesday, 05 June 2012 11:46 AM

Catches win matches.

Dee Tuesday, 05 June 2012 11:13 AM

Whoever is right or wrong, using different passports to travel is terrorism. wonder how the Brits tolerate such acts?

Lal Tuesday, 05 June 2012 11:11 AM

You are apot on Ruwna

enid Tuesday, 05 June 2012 11:05 AM

No,they did the right thing.Even in the USA if they are suspicious of someone they deport you.At least twice the Indian movie star Sharuk Khan was questioned at the airport for hours probably because he has a Muslim name. If they believe it is a threat to their security they deport people . Why should not Sri Lanka ? Since there is evidence that channel 4 falsified evidence any way.

sam Tuesday, 05 June 2012 10:54 AM

if you have nothing to hide, why you need to worry. This will lead to another story -

APE SARA Tuesday, 05 June 2012 10:45 AM

BUFFALOA IDIOT DONT YOU LOVE YOUR PEOPLE AND WHY DRAG THIS SINHALES TAMIL COMUNAL HATRED CONTINUESLY ....YOU KNOW SURE YOU WILL NEVER SUCCESS WITH EELAM....MORE YOU DRAG MORE YOUR PEPLE WILL SUFFER......DONT GET MISLED BY POLITICIAN WHO WANTS POPULARITY OVER YOUR INNOCENT PEOPLE....

UK boy Wednesday, 06 June 2012 05:04 AM

Rajapakse speech at Commonwealth meeting in UK cancelled. Read foreign news too.

Chamini Thursday, 07 June 2012 03:55 AM

spot on mate...

Ravi Wednesday, 06 June 2012 02:33 PM

What a response! Channel 4 become more popular in SL!

TrueLankan Wednesday, 06 June 2012 01:15 PM

War Criminals?!?!!...

Who's still killing people in Afghan and Iraq?

Hasthi Wednesday, 06 June 2012 09:36 AM

Husband still has not realised what a ride he is on. Poor fellow.

Hasthi Wednesday, 06 June 2012 09:34 AM

They welcome troublemakers. We don't.

Hasthi Wednesday, 06 June 2012 08:03 AM

Hello Buff, you think US will welcome Julian Assange for a holiday?

Be realistic Buff.

Saskia Wednesday, 06 June 2012 08:07 AM

In the same manner, UK does not welcome war criminals.

Wara Wednesday, 06 June 2012 06:38 AM

You parents have put the exact name.

TrueLankan Wednesday, 06 June 2012 06:16 AM

Lanka does not welcome traitors :D!!

chandi Tuesday, 05 June 2012 10:04 AM

Jesus wts wrong with us wt r v hiding? R v really committed var crims? Do v have a case 2 answer

judej Wednesday, 06 June 2012 04:55 AM

BC you're simply a dumb guy!!!

Conty Wednesday, 06 June 2012 04:56 AM

I don't agree that the LTTE is funding the UK parliament but some MP's, that's a possibility, can't accuse without being sure. But "Tamil citizen" what is the UK economy? No matter what it is the country is no different to the USA in other words "bloody well half broke" Wait till the next GFC hits and that's not too far away!!! if you have any money to spare don't waste it on the Tamil diaspora!!!!!!!

NAK Wednesday, 06 June 2012 04:46 AM

What the Ch4 produced can not be called a documentary because it does not have the the other side of the story, therefore is not a balanced report. It is more a horror teledrama
with a lot of speculation and hype and little facts and truth.
The purpose clearly is only to discredited the government the armed forces of Sri Lanka.

aj Wednesday, 06 June 2012 04:29 AM

we don;t need former terrorists to visit us. if she had travelled to this country with false passports then she should be hnaged to death. Bith would have come to do another false video against our motherland - pls send her to me - i will give her a good video with her being the star of that movie.

DUWI Wednesday, 06 June 2012 04:24 AM

Now we know the connection between the LTTE and Channel 4.

Mason Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:24 PM

Our government talks differently at different times. There is chest thumping rhetoric, then enter thru back door for secret discussion, having told the people we do not cow down to anyone. Recently our foreign minister was in USA to placate Ms Hilary Clinton, having ignored her invitation in the first instance, because a resolution was passed against us for human rights violations.
Should you have nothing to hide why deport journalists whichever hue they represent.
To be precise our government does not have conviction and/or courage. This is final and any right thinking person knows it.

rana Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:13 PM

The visa was issued the same manner how Karuna was issued a visa to go to London and get jail for 6 months. Finally he became a minister with pension whereas the pension of Gen SF was deprived of.

Nodrog Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:12 PM

Buffaloa, some of yours were pretty moronic too.

rana Tuesday, 05 June 2012 01:08 PM

It was issued the same way how Karuna was issued a visa to go to London and get jailed.

achtung Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:12 AM

ah another LTTE supporter...

Citizen Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:36 AM

We can expect more negative stories against Sri lanka.

M.V.R.Perera Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:29 AM

Were not our war heroes clean but see the videos, channel 4 made as such well done Sri Lanka

gune Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:27 AM

Haaaa...., now we can see who is Channel 4.
Its pure LTTE. carder.

warra85 Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:25 AM

good move, well done these hypocrites should be banished once and for all including their western allies.

wasanthi Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:19 AM

he, he, he what is that becouse you happy or becouse your mission failed ?

Silva Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:23 AM

Why govt scared they have lot to hide, so they only allow bribe able journalist not independent journalist

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:14 AM

Prosecute whom for what crime? What C4 committed by showing to the world or what GOSL committed that was shown on C4?

Kazuko Ohtha Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:16 AM

Fantastic. The gutter TV station Channel 4. Should have sent a message via her to her C4 bosses asking why they haven't still shown the clips of the Tamil women dead in refugee camps after being gang raped by the SL army. That is the origin of the C4 vandetta against SL (other than the links to the LTTE supporters in Europe and UK) when Gotha asked the illustrious journalist of the C4 to show some evidence and then deported him when he failed to produce any evidence. Just imagine these days a journalist going to do his job without even a mobile phone camera!!

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:12 AM

We have shown the world that we are actually cowards and a lot to hide.

Bambalosi Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:11 AM

If SL could implement the "eye scanner" (which is a practice in UAE airports), then, the same person can not travel using different passport. It's high time to implement latest technologies in SL airports.

Fusion Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:38 AM

Yes we are major pushovers. We get kicked around by pretty much everyone. The reason Ms. Sabaratnam was deported was because Police & Judiciary in the UK are independent from the Govt unlike SL.

Katta Kuvera Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:08 AM

Honda Waday !

Nodrog Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:05 AM

They will visit all the beaches and other tourists attractions then go back and write false and derogatory stories about what they saw first-hand on their recent visit about places they never saw etc.

aj Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:00 AM

FROM LTTE MEMBER.. HEHEHEHE GREAT JOKE. EVERY ONE.. LTTE. WHO IS WRITE TRUE THEY ALL LTTE. WHO TALKING ABOUT TAMILS PBM IN THIS LAND. THEY ALL LTTE. HEHEHE

Dispora Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:57 AM

Well done Sri Lankan authorities. These are the people who created immance bad reputation to our mother land.

Em Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:59 AM

Just let them do their job if you govt. folks & supporters are clean..

visa Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:55 AM

Why are GOSL allowe these people to just go back. We must prosecute them mximum under our laws and make them pay for there crimes.

shantha madawela Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:53 AM

if Govt. is doing correct, why so worry about them...?

Wimal_Modawansa Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:54 AM

Media freedom at it's best.Keep up the good work.

MR Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:54 AM

Good Move

Sapumal Bandara Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:48 AM

EXCELLENT!
PLEASE KEEP HER AND FEED HER TILL SHE DIES.

King Kong Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:10 AM

You have named yourself right. You are a mee-haraka.

Saskia Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:56 AM

ha ha ha...in their mind, everyone who points out their mistakes are LTTE. What a funny people. I cannot stop laughing.

mansam Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:35 AM

You are defeneitly a Buffaloa citizen

Ruwan Ferdinandez Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:39 AM

Channell 4 is a synonym for Media-Prostitution.

sanjewa Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:32 AM

Prosecute whom for what crime? dude read this "Ms. Sabaratnam admitted she had used different passports to travel to Sri Lanka" , IS THIS NOT ENOUGH TO PROSECUTE ?
We all know why C4 more keen on sri lanka, Its a family affair and DIASPORA pump money to create lods of rubbish against us
Why C4 not making any thing in countires like Iraq, afgantistan or Libiya..... not enough money or no one to invest. WE KNOW MONEY TALKS ...lol

Mushtaq Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:32 AM

having used different passports to travel to Sri Lanka or any other country is a punishable offence !!
The SL immgration has all the right to detain her and arrest her for wrong decleration !! Even the U.K immgration has the same right.
How can you have different passports in the 1st place !!

U.K is broke , the L.T.T.E is basically funding the parliament to run the country !

sam Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:33 AM

I hopw we go through all their Electronic devices.. to see what info they have.. and who is their local contact..

Reader Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:23 AM

This type of phobia of the government merely suggests to observers that there od some truth in the suspisions of the international community. As SF said we should be bold enough to face up to scrutiny. These actions are as if we are acting scared. For the sake of the dignity and reputation of our country, if not anything else, let us boldly face the scrutiny. Surely we have nothing to hide. Just because a reporter writes something bad we should not be shutting them up. Well it has happened to so many of our local journalists that they have had to pay the ultimate price for attempting to inform readers of their perspective of things. If we as a community allow them to be silenced, we will one day realise that we have lost our voice in the public domain, and will hear only the voice of a dictator.

Sangeetha Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:25 AM

Let the truth prevail! If there is nothing to hide then no one can point fingers at us.

balu Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:19 AM

you are a real buffaloa

Amila.G Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:12 AM

Very good move well done. These people come to Sri Lanka with one motive , That`s to tarnish the image and fabricate some story which they are good at selling to the west, who is waiting to swallow .

Johann Gunasekara Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:51 AM

She must have been fishing for another story whilst our President is in SL, we have shown the world that we are no pushovers

Lakshan Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:07 AM

Put Stuart Cosgrove face on TV advertising if seen anywhere report to police. LOL!!!

Mayu Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:12 AM

Fear factors lead to wrong move.

Bees Trap Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:11 AM

good move by the officials.

samosa Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:07 AM

We can presumably assume another documentary with this person's detention experience at SL airport.

ANURA Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:04 AM

Very good. The questionable individuals from chanal 4 should be prevented from entering SriLanka simply because we know what they are up to here in SriLanka.

gunawardena Tuesday, 05 June 2012 09:00 AM

Hondai Hondai, stand up to these people and good to deport them.
trying to demoralise our nation.

Priyanka Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:59 AM

Good move, how come she has multiple passports? what is the comment from Home office in the UK. These people want to get more economic migrants as refugees to the UK and soak up our tax money. IF they really need to go away from Sri Lanka goto Tamil Nadu.

Chinthaka Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:53 AM

YO.... dnt come to support LTTE in SL

ransam Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:46 AM

What Job? If she is doing a proper job she doesn't need to visit her motherland with false identities.

Lanka Puthra Tuesday, 05 June 2012 08:41 AM

you are a real buffalo,

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Channel-4 journalist deported

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