BBC Sinhala To End Nepotism; Looking For New Editor For Fresh Start
January 3, 2016
For the first time advertising the editor post of the BBC Sinhala Service, BBC World Service is to recruit a new editor to end nepotism and favouritism in the section, a source close to BBC told Colombo Telegraph.
The BBC has now advertised in its website, under the Careers Section the vacancy for the post of Editor of the Sinhala service, promising a salary in the range of 43000- 46000 sterling pounds per annum.
The advertisement says; “BBC Sinhala Editor will ensure content to the Sinhalese speaking audience in Sri Lanka and worldwide meets the highest standards of journalism and is always delivered in accordance with BBC editorial guidelines”. “It seems none of the permanent employees of the BBC Sinhala would be suitable to apply for the post”, someone who has seen the advertisement told Colombo Telegraph.
During last three years most of the senior BBC Sinhala broadcasters were sacked, forced to resign or removed from their duties and the section was under caretaker managers who were not the speakers of Sinhala Language.
Editor Priyath Liyanage was removed from his editorial duties in November 2013 due to unsound editorial judgements and since then BBC Sinhala service has been without a sitting editor to oversee the day today administrational functions.
In 2015, Senior Producer Chandana Keerthi Bandara was sacked on bullying and harassment charges and Producer M. J. R. David had to resign from his post due to ill health and also following a bullying and harassment allegations. The only producer remaining at the BBC Sinhala Wimalasena Hewage is to take voluntary redundancy with the proposed restructuring, Colombo Telegraph reliably learns.
Of the remaining two senior staff, presenter Saroj Pathirana was accused of a bogus marriage to get permanent residency in the United Kingdom. It is alleged that he married a woman who had her first marriage when Pathriana was a seven years old boy and the issue is now under investigation, Colombo Telegraph further learns.
