BBC apologises to Minister Peiris

COLOMBO: BBC Sinhala.com apologised to Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris for misquoting him in an article published on September 5.

Head of the Sinhala service Priyath Liyanage said in the report headlined 'Minister admits rights violations', the writer had misquoted the Minister.

"We retract the article and unreservedly apologise to Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and readers. The error was made unintentionally due to the writer's misinterpretation of the Minister's statement," he said.

The Export Development and International Trade Ministry said BBC Sinhala.com had misquoted Minister Peiris in an article published on September 5.

In a letter to the Editor of the BBC Sinhala Service, the Minister's private secretary said:

"It has been brought to my notice that your website posted on Friday, September 2008, contains the following caption; "Minister admits rights violations".

"Your website then continue as follows: "Minister in charge of Investment Development Professor G.L. Peiris told BBC Sandeshaya that the international community should understand the context in which these abuses taking place.

"I wish to state categorically that the Minister did not at any time state or imply that human rights violations are being committed by the Government of Sri Lanka. Your statement to the contrary is entirely false and mischievous and made with malicious intent".

"You are kindly required to retract your false caption and report, and to give necessary publicity to this statement".