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Last Updated : 2024-04-23 17:11:00
29 January 2010 11:09 am - 27 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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.'
Friday, 29 January 2010 06:26 PM
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.'
Saturday, 30 January 2010 11:31 AM
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
Saturday, 30 January 2010 11:01 AM
fools like you have destroyed this country. Go back to jungle.
Saturday, 30 January 2010 07:37 AM
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 .
Saturday, 30 January 2010 07:34 AM
If the government is clean , nothing to fear , but with this action , there is something fishy . very soon the truth will comeout
Saturday, 30 January 2010 07:20 AM
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
Saturday, 30 January 2010 07:16 AM
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.
Saturday, 30 January 2010 06:44 AM
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",
Saturday, 30 January 2010 12:12 AM
Because the rest of the world has nothing better to do than deliberately run a vicious campaign to discredit Sri Lanka?
Friday, 29 January 2010 08:35 PM
'Purohitha,' tell your masters not to go with their begging-bowls to the West, especially to Christian countries!
Friday, 29 January 2010 08:29 PM
Be ready for more!
Friday, 29 January 2010 08:29 PM
Another sad episode, demonstrated by the government of SL!
Friday, 29 January 2010 07:03 PM
Is this the 'free media movement,' mentioned in election propaganda?
Friday, 29 January 2010 06:46 PM
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 ...
Friday, 29 January 2010 01:55 PM
Toe our line, or get kicked out !!!!!! A STERN WARNING TO OTHER FOREIGN MEDIA OPERATING IN THE OUNTRY.
Friday, 29 January 2010 06:03 PM
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!
Friday, 29 January 2010 05:48 PM
EU & USA, what can you tell us about this?
Friday, 29 January 2010 05:24 PM
Why? So that both the world and the rest of the country, will not start talking about the truth?
Friday, 29 January 2010 05:10 PM
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!
Friday, 29 January 2010 04:13 PM
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.
Friday, 29 January 2010 03:27 PM
SL is in a very very sorry state
Friday, 29 January 2010 03:24 PM
the beginning of the democracy .
Friday, 29 January 2010 03:02 PM
no more red carpets for foreign media!
Friday, 29 January 2010 03:02 PM
send the local reporters to Australia christmas island
Friday, 29 January 2010 02:49 PM
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.
Friday, 29 January 2010 02:42 PM
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.
Friday, 29 January 2010 01:56 PM
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.
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