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BBC suspends news to Sri Lanka's state media over censorship
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by Sanjay Jha | February 9, 2009 at 08:08 pm
131 views | 5 Recommendations | 3 comments
Fed up with continuous interference by Sri Lankan government, the BBC World Service has decided to suspend its FM programming to the Sri Lankan national radio service SLBC.
World Service programmes and news reports in English, Sinhala and Tamil had been blocked, the BBC alleged, citing 25 instances of interference between November last year and last month.
The BBC has decided to stop providing FM radio news to the state broadcaster Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation as many of its news reports in Sinhala, Tamil and English had been blocked or only partially broadcast.
The BBC World Service is to stop providing radio news to Sri Lanka's state broadcaster because of what it calls "deliberate interference".A statement said FM broadcasts to the Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation would be suspended from Tuesday.
The BBC said many of its news reports in Sinhala, Tamil and English had been blocked or only partially broadcast.
The SLBC chairman admitted censoring BBC programming, saying he had a duty to do so at a time of war.
The BBC says it will maintain its services in Sinhala, Tamil and English on short wave radio and online. BBC news reports in English are to continue on the Sri Lankan commercial radio broadcaster, MBC.
The BBC move follows allegations that press freedoms are being eroded in Sri Lanka as fighting intensifies between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.
Media rights groups accuse the Sri Lankan authorities of cracking down on dissent. The government denies the charge.
The BBC move follows allegations that press freedoms are being eroded in Sri Lanka as fighting intensifies between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels. Earlier many international organisations working for media freedom has slammmed Sri Lankan government for stifling media voice.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 04:02 on February 10th, 2009
I think it is all pretty disgusting: the S/L government gets more authoritarian with each passing day!
at 04:19 on February 10th, 2009
Interfering with the BBC service? How much interference would the local broadcasters get? Lol. We know all about that don't we.
at 15:23 on February 10th, 2009
It's Happen When BBC ,CNN Propaganda for Terrorist's. And They Got Double acting Policy
for Terrorists . Is Alkaida is Bad Terriorsts and Others Good Terrorists ???