President grants permission

13 November 2010 02:46 am - 61 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa has informed the Department of Immigration and Emigration to grant visas to the Al Jazeera news crew, the President's office told Daily Mirror. The Al Jazeera crew were earlier denied visa for unknown reasons. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 61

arshad Saturday, 13 November 2010 07:53 AM

Those are political tactics..........

manmohan Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:36 AM

Clear panic movements.... sri lanka is fast fading with international community and Rajapaksha is going to face some tough test .... BBC Al Jazeera... they all will rally around ...
RAjapaksha The Curse Of Sri Lanka !

sltk2004 Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:09 AM

"unknown reasons" ? - does that mean that the people at Immigration Dept don't know what they are doing ?

w.g.l Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:16 AM

must have intelligent man told him to do it other wise he wont do it we are going to have it in time to came more bad times

shan777 Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:21 AM

When something good is done its only because of fear, as if Sri Lankan's can't do any good without fear from outside.

Jalba Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:21 AM

boru show

t to the world Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:31 AM

Ranjan, if the Govt was afraid of international boomerang, you yourself would be in fear of bombs as yet. So, be a hypocrit but don't show it to the world

malkanthi Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:31 AM

WE REALLY APPRECIATE, AND IT IS SOOTHING TO EARS THE JUICY, INTERESTING, HEART WARMING STUFF HE SPEAKS IN PUBLIC AND THE WONDERFUL PROMISES HE GIVES.

Fair n Square Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:41 AM

RED carpet welcome of course ! Their country has done what no other country has done to Sl and also during the war

Modawansa Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:52 AM

Great leader with a vision.Any chance of buying them over?Everything in life has a price.A good negotiator gets the best deal.

Asanka Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:55 AM

Are you are a Sri Lankan ?

NADARAJAH SETHURUPAN Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:55 AM

Government rejected but President grants permission, Action and reaction are confused.

Modawansa Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:56 AM

Agreed.
It is better to keep your mouth shut and allow the others to assume that you are a fool than opening it and proving that you are a bloody fool.

Top Sri Lankan Saturday, 13 November 2010 07:05 AM

Why the Visa was declined in the first place? then why the President has to intervene? we need to know the reasons if the VISA was declined for the right reasons, looks too lame to me, I hope the President wont intervene when the Visa is Declined to Bangkok Hookers.

Ruhunu Puthra Saturday, 13 November 2010 07:15 AM

The whole thing is a publicity jimmick to show the world, what a media friendlly president Sri Lanka has.

Yehiya-Doha Saturday, 13 November 2010 07:40 AM

Well organized plan. Childish diplomancy. It show the mentality & professionalism of high ranks. Mr.ajive wijesighe must appoint as adviser. He handle the white flag matter very professionally.

tissa Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:33 AM

I would like ppl like you, who know everything, to tell us all about what has been bought

Man B Saturday, 13 November 2010 08:08 AM

to telecast his second term of Presidential.

show man Saturday, 13 November 2010 08:27 AM

If Qatar kick off all the SL employees all the above stupid commence become real joks of the day

Smart Aleck Saturday, 13 November 2010 08:40 AM

Ir Dr. Mervin being sent to welcome Al Jazeera guys at the airport?

steve Saturday, 13 November 2010 08:47 AM

It has become the presidents job to involve himself in immigration functions too? how funny the way the government institutions functions in the island, every thing under one man!
King is degrading his status!

sw Saturday, 13 November 2010 09:00 AM

Refusing and granting Visa are done by the same person, may be late cold feet, so what all this fuss.

Ami Saturday, 13 November 2010 09:20 AM

I endorse your comment ! Everything here centered around The King which is in my point of view disabling the dicision making of relevent authorities !

Anselm Saturday, 13 November 2010 09:55 AM

Peter didn't know what Paul was doing and Paul wanted it to be reversed to show that Peter is a straight forward person.

xlntgson Saturday, 13 November 2010 10:34 AM

Good decision, a video clip won't be an evidence if it is not supported by many an eye witness and the intention and purpose of filming in a war zone, spying?

Shaik Anwar Ahamath Saturday, 13 November 2010 11:43 AM

I do not understand the refusal of Visas when they are supposedly issued at point of entry valid for 30 days. Leaving that aside, if permission to cover a news item was denied, SL is justified as Al Jazeera had broadcasted unverified and detrimental news about Sri Lanka, but we would be cutting our noses to spite our face because that would let Al Jazeera source their news from unreliable quarters and we cannot then complain about the substance.

JX Saturday, 13 November 2010 12:10 PM

ban them they wanted to stir problems and wanted to be the talk of the day,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Lanka Law Graduates Saturday, 13 November 2010 04:00 PM

Who is the Boss, or all are bosses?.

Punchi appu Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:22 PM

I don't think so - but they must be taken to task for spreading wrong news items.

Poor But Rich Saturday, 13 November 2010 06:40 PM

why MR should give permission, SL respects democracy and international law fully, I think Al Jazeera nothing to document in SL.

Kodithuvakau Sunday, 14 November 2010 03:08 AM

Playing bad guy, good guy game. First prez tell the immigrations to deny visa, then he intervence to grant visa. What a joke?

w.g.l Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:56 AM

yes your are true Mr rif

Ranjan Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:03 AM

Fear of international boomerang??

Kadira Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:03 AM

Looking forward for the comments from the patriots. Ha Ha Ha

pissu balla Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:09 AM

Alright. Man is trying to make up his loosing face. Let them come and execute a plot to put them in jail.

rif Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:10 AM

may be to buy Al Jazeera

Fair n Square Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:11 AM

Wise decision. Probably his secretaries read the comments made on Daily Mirror online and made him realize what the repurcussions were

Hash Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:19 AM

Is this meaning they rejected the VISA without the presidents recommendation ? ....

Chin Chung Chin Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:20 AM

I wonder what whould have happened if the Chinese TV Channel (CCTV) applied for visa ?

yikes Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:25 AM

granting visa is one thing. granting access to various parts of the country is another. the crew may find themselves restricted only to tourist sites (like north korea restricts international correspondents)

nikita Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:36 AM

because now nothing else is left to buy in sl

AH Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:43 AM

dnt just throw words man..tell sth wise

dhana Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:45 AM

Granting and no granting advice origins from the same office.

sxhabeeb Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:51 AM

Yes sir, Ou are right... we have nothing to worry and nothing to hide.... Long live MR..... Advance wishes for you new term...

Ramzeel Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:51 AM

Yes this is the correct way to handle these issues. Simply if the hands are not soaked in blood, why then fear Al Jazeera or any other Media. Likewise BBC should also be permitted to visit the North & East to report independently.

Saradial Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:53 AM

GOSL has passed message to Al-Jazeera "Be carefuller!"

tamilan Saturday, 13 November 2010 02:56 AM

good for srilanka....

malkanthi Saturday, 13 November 2010 03:57 AM

All power are rested on president, We dont need ministers. One Man Show.

david Saturday, 13 November 2010 04:04 AM

So our president is good and we see there are many stupids around him.

Ane Anichchan Saturday, 13 November 2010 04:18 AM

Mr President, you shouldn't have allowed this kind of bias media group to step in to Sri Lanka as a lesson to other media groups. Anyway, strict instructions should be given to them if they get caught reporting rubbish again they will be kicked out of the country immediately.

bash Saturday, 13 November 2010 04:22 AM

Boss giving permission after informing the assistants to refuse first.... hope they too are like the majority sri Lankans

pasel Saturday, 13 November 2010 04:25 AM

Who made the earlier decision?

Anver Saturday, 13 November 2010 04:26 AM

Yes, it looks saner wisdom has prevailed after seeing commengts on DM online.

raj Saturday, 13 November 2010 04:30 AM

both giving or denying visa is bad. denying can create a rift between parties. allowing can give more opportunity to go into deeper about the accusation

shiva Saturday, 13 November 2010 04:54 AM

my perspective is that Al-Jazeera is a far better news channel than the rest...(CNN....etc...) They dont fabricate the story but report what ever information RAW.....let ppl decide unlike CNN who makes nice stories...!!

And what they have reported is what they got from some Tamil source....So why not allow them to verify by them self....& confirm....Good move..!

DEEN Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:01 AM

IT IS A VERY GESTURE BY OUR PRESIDENT.
WE MUST APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT HE DID NOT TAKE REVENGE ON THE REPORTERS, BY DENYING VISA.

WHILE CONDEMNING ANY ONE FOR WRONG DOINGS, WE MUST ALSO HAVE THE COURAGE TO APPRECIATE THE GOOD THINGS.

sham Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:05 AM

hey, mera MPs Don't try to do any troubles to Al Jazeera crew... after comming to Sri Lanka...

sham Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:07 AM

Excellent Question....

Chami Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:17 AM

Clever president one side no visa.. other side very good man publicly announcing to provide visas.......

will see how long he can do this.

malkanthi Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:20 AM

Having stupid fellows around is much safer than wise men. So they will act like puppets or become a mouth piece. Only the country will suffer.

TDDC Saturday, 13 November 2010 05:24 AM

Chase them out if they become nuisance. Give them only 24 Hrs to pack and go.

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President grants permission

Comments - 61

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