Subtle Business Interests More Damaging Than Anti–Democratic Regime: Dhanapala Should Answer Conflict Of Interest Questions – Dr. Nirmal Ranjith
March 18, 2014
The former president of the Federation of University Teachers’ Association has strongly criticised the unethical behavior of the Dialog Axiata PLC board member and the key co-signatory of the Friday Forum and the former Under Secretary General United Nations, Jayantha Dhanapala for his continued lying over Colombo Telegraph blockade.
Dr. Nirmal
Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri urges Dhanapala to be “equally outspoken when business interests are cooperating with the anti-democratic regime.”
“This is a serious allegation. As a key public figure who is in the frontline in defending democratic rights in recent times, he has a duty to defend himself against this allegation. While acknowledging his role in raising his voice against the growing authoritarian tendency in Sri Lanka, I would like him to be equally outspoken when business interests are cooperating with the anti-democratic regime. Perhaps business interests are more damaging for freedom of expression and right to information than the state repression because the former is more subtle. I think, therefore, that The Colombo Telegraph has every right to ask Dr. Dhanapala for a clarification on this serious matter, and we the readers of the Colombo Telegraph too should do the same.” he said.
Related posts;
Dialog Board Director And Friday Forum Member Jayantha Dhanapala Fails To Stop CT Blockade On Dialog Network
March 18, 2014
Our Silence Towards Atrocities In North Invited Terror To Our Doorstep In South: UNP
March 18, 2014
The United National Party is concerned about the recent arrests under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act in the North and the breakdown of law and order in the country.
Issuing a statement today the UNP said; “The UNP once again call on the people of this country, particularly in the South, to realise the gravity of the human rights situation. We have been misled numerous times by thinking that human rights are an issue of merely the people of the North. It is because of our silence towards the atrocities in the North that the terror of Weliweriya came to our doorstep in the South; it is because of our apathy at the killings of journalists in the North that Editors of national newspapers were killed in broad day light in the streets of Colombo; it is because of our inaction that this regime has been able to get away with crushing all our collective rights.”
We publish below the statement in full;
Recent developments in the North raise serious concerns about the human rights record of the ruling regime, while also creating doubt as to whether it is intentionally provoking international action in order to gain petty political milage.
