Sri Lanka: Sunday Leader versus Asia Tribune spat continues

Sunday, 25 November 2007

COLOMBO (SNM) -- A long running bicker between Sri Lanka's weekly Sunday Leader, and Asia Tribune website continued this week with both sides publishing articles slandering the other. Asia Tribune is owned and edited by KT Rajasingham, a former newspaper vendor from Sri Lanka who is currently based at an unknown location in Sweden. Sunday Leader is edited by Lasantha Wickrematunga, a professional journalist with a career spanning several decades. The paper features articles by investigative journalist Sonali Samarasinghe, a western-educated professional with several journalistic awards to her name.

The spat began in October when the Sunday Leader published an article by Sonali Samarasinghe accusing Asia Tribune editor/owner KT Rajasingham of ordering abductions and killings in Sri Lanka.

KT Rajasingham responded with an article accusing Sonali Samarasinghe of offering 'sexual favours' to climb up the career ladder.

Tensions peaked last Wednesday when gunmen loyal to KT Rajasingham set fire to the Sunday Leader printing press in Ratmalana.

Today, the Sunday Leader has published the minutes of a meeting between KT Rajasingham and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The minutes reveal details of funds flowing from the government coffers to Rajasingham.

Meanwhile, Rajasingham has published a lengthy article outlining what he claims is a sexual affair between Lasantha Wickrematunga and Sonali Samarasinghe.

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Kaffir said:

Is Rajasingham a Sinhalese to be a pal of Mahinda ..? I don't understand this conflict... Who is with LTTE now Rajasingham or Lasantha..? I think, This clarifies, The real problem in Sri Lanka can't be an issue between Tamils and Sinhalese...

2007-11-26 01:21:09

N said:

KAFFIR is absolutely right. The real problem is not between Tamils and Sinhalese.

The real probelm is between the Sinhala-Buddhist-Extremists and politicians who belveve that the Tamils have no place in SriLanka except as subservient to Sinhala supremacy and the Tamils who are victimised. No Sinhala-Buddhist-Extremists and crooked politiicians, No problems.

There are also unscrupulous Tamils (who side with their extremist masters) as well as honourable Sinhalese (who believe in equality for all, but who sadly have no power to do anything).

2007-11-26 09:08:18

Ashley said:

Well said "N"

Will ever Sinhalese civilian understand this and try to do something?? Or they will continue to believe in their Sinhala media ??

2007-11-26 19:53:46

Kaffir said:

Ooooh May be that's why there are thousands of Tamils can live in the south and these LTTE terrorists chased or hacked to death thousnads of sinhala people from north .. yeah ..?? I see the real problem now ...

2007-11-27 01:04:26

N said:

This time KAFFIR is completely wrong.

Actually it was the Government sponsored Sinhala thugs with the help of the exremist elements in the armed forces who have been rioting violently (hacking, burning looting etc) against the Tamils since independence. (Now also the violence continues but it is called war).

That Tamils are able to live in the South these days is proof that all those earlier AntiTamil riots were organised and planned by the Sinhala-Buddhist-Extremists and NOT spontaneous by the general masses. Now days it is not in the interests of the Sinhala-Buddhist-Extremists to organise similar widespread riots because the world is watching and the Extremists need IC support to fight with the LTTE.

If there was no LTTE to fight, then just like earlier times the Sinhala-Buddhist-Extremists will organise more AntiTamil riots to 'teach the Tamils a lesson' as Jayawardene explained in 1983.

2007-11-27 12:29:05

Bobby said:

Sinhala-Buddhist-Extremists are shit scared to do anything for Tamils in South. As long as LTTE is there, they can't do shit to Tamils in south. It is not Sinhala-Buddhist-Extremists are being fair and treating tamils equal and not doing anything.... it is they are shit scared of LTTE.

But they are continue to arrest young tamils saying, they suspect there people are LTTE. But if they arrest real LTTE, LTTE can come out by giving the police little money. Sinhalese will do anything for money.

One of my friends is LTTE and he was arrested 3 times in colombo, he came out next minute jus tby giving the police money, now police don't even go to his house for checking. Money can buy these Sinhalese so easily.

After all these Sinhala armys join the army for the money, not for love of their country - you get paid for rapping women. Where else they can get that ??

2007-11-27 20:56:33

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