Lankans in London protest against BBC's biased reporting

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan expatriates in Briton staged a protest campaign against the British Broadcasting Corporation for distorting the country's security news aiding and abetting the Tiger terrorists indirectly. The protest demonstration was organised by the SLFP London Branch and some other Sinhala organisations Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) London organiser Rani Bulathwala told Lankapuvath.

A large number of Sri Lankans protested in front of Bush House, Headquarters of the World Service, accusing BBC of being "Sympathetic to the Tiger Terrorists," during the recent upsurge of violence in the North and the East.

Meanwhile, a petition blaming the BBC for hampering Sri Lanka's attempts to "Eradicate terrorism" has been handed over to the BBC officials.

Nickie Clarke, Executive Editor of the Asia Pacific Region and Priyath Liyanage, Head of Sinhala Service of the BBC World Service handed over the petition on Monday.Handing over the petition, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) London organiser Rani Bulathwala accused BBC Sandeshaya of "Badly influencing the whole of the BBC on Sri Lanka's conflict."

An organisation called Sri Lankans Against Terrorism (SLAT) is calling for an "Unbiased" coverage on the long running conflict in the island nation.

"Viewed internationally as an icon for the dissemination of the truth about various countries and their affairs, it (BBC) has been less than impartial or straight forward or factual in its reports about Sri Lanka," a statement by the SLAT said.

Lankapuvath