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| Wednesday, 21 January 2004 |
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With reference to our page 3 news story of 1st January 2004 headlined Union wants probe into new Press Chief's appointment,the Sri Lanka Press Council Employees Union (SLPCEU) states. "Your attention is drawn to the news item that appeared on page three of "Daily News" of 01.01.2004 under the heading "Union wants probe into new Press Chief's Appointment". It is obvious that the news item was based on a forge memorandum purportedly sent by the Sri Lanka Press Council Employees Union to H.E. the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The alleged memorandum had requested her to probe the manner in which the new Press Commissioner was appointed. The purported memorandum had been signed by the Union President Mr. R.P. Podiappuharmy. The Sri Lanka Press Council Employees' Union unreservedly rejects the authorship of the so-called memorandum. Mr. R.P. Podiappuharmy, Secretary of the Union, in a Press release had categorically rejected the authenticity and the content of the above news item. In a signed affidavit Mr. Podiappuharmy says that the news item is completely untrue, factually wrong and misleading. Mr. Podiappuharmy denies having originated such a memorandum by the SLPCEU, to H.E. the President under his name. Mr. Podiappuharmy testifies to the fact that the said memorandum purportedly written under his name is surely the work of a mischief maker, bent on tarnishing the image of the 30 year old history of the Sri Lanka Press Council and the unblemished professional career of the newly appointed Press Commissioner. The new Press Commissioner had been appointed with the concurrence of the Minister in accordance with the stipulated procedure and the requisite qualifications. The new Press Commissioner joined the Council as a clerk with a B.A. Special Degree in Economics - Second Class Honours (Lower Division) of the Peradeniya University. He has also earned his MSSc in Mass Communication from the Kelaniya University. During the course of last thirty years the new Press Commissioner has been the only officer in the staff of the Press Council who got commendation for his work. He was promoted to Executive Grade on 01.01.1987 as Office Assistant. After that he was elevated to posts of Manager (Administration/Research), Assistant Press Commissioner and Deputy Press Commissioner. He was appointed as Acting Press Commissioner with effect from 27.02.2001. As a matter of fact he has more than seventeen years experience in the Executive Grade. On a proposal submitted by him in 1989, when he was the Office Assistant, the Council launched the programme of issuing scholarly publication on journalism. Under this project he had edited four books. He is the first Press Commissioner who wrote a scholarly book on journalism. The said book titled "Newspaper, Reader and Credibility" was highly appreciated by readers and reviewers as it was the first book published in Sri Lanka on the important concept of credibility in journalism. The Union has resolved to refer the matter of this alleged memorandum to the CID for investigation. The Union has urged the CID to identify a person or persons who sent the forged memorandum using an official letter-head of the Press Council and using the names of office-bearers of the Union." |
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