BBC Complaints Saga: Liyanage’s Complaint Against Bandara Is Under Investigation
December 30, 2013
An investigation against BBC Sinhala Service Senior Producer Chandana Keerthi Bandara is underway, the Colombo Telegraph learns. This follows a complaint made against him by the former BBC Sinhala Service Head, Priyath Liayanage.
Bandara has been informed that the BBC could take disciplinary action against him, although is not clear what the charges are.
Corrupt BBC Sinhala trio, Liyange, Bandara and Elmo with the Head of
Region for the Americas and Europe for the BBC World Service.
The BBC World Service spokesman, Paul Rasmussenrefused to give details, but did not deny the story.
When asked about the outcome of the recent investigation against Priyath Liayanage,
the BBC said; ”the investigation has concluded and the BBC has put in
place training and procedures to address the issues,” but refused to
give further details.
The BBC said removed Sinhala Head Liyange “is shortly starting an
attachment on the WS Languages WW1 project, which is part of the overall
BBC coverage of the centenary.”
This is the second occasion this
year that the BBC has found it necessary to provide special training
for its Sinhala Service employees. Early this year the BBC Sinhala head
was sent to follow a BBC course on Journalistic Ethics after it was
found that he had issued letters of recommendation to enable his deputy,
Bandara, as well as to Colombo correspondentElmo Fernando to obtain interest free loans from the Sri Lanka Government. He was also accused of misleading the public regarding the same issue.
According to the BBC, Bandara and Fernando have also been required to
undergo BBC ethics training for applying for interest free loans from
the Sri Lanka Government where the taxpayers pay the interest on behalf
of these journalists.
