State media blames exiled scribes for 'mudslinging' against Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 July 2010, 10:01 GMT]
A 'clandestine media group' consisting of several Sri Lankan journalists now in exile has embarked on a mudslinging campaign against Sri Lanka, state-owned media reported Friday. According to the Dinamina Sinhala daily, this group of journalists have sent a petition condemning Sri Lanka to more than 70 foreign non-governmental organizations urging these organizations to pressure the international community to withdraw any trade benefits given to Sri Lanka.

In a propaganda drive, the newspaper article also attempted claiming that an opposition parliamentarian has funded the journalists to draw up the mudslinging petition.

The parliamentarian had provided electronic items worth over Rs. 500,000 worth of computers, telephones, copiers and several other items to assist the drawing up of the petition.

According to 'intelligence sources', which were quoted by the newspaper, the 'primary journalist' heading this group of exiled reporters, had left Sri Lanka several months ago.

The campaign by the state-media may have a motive beyond mere propaganda against the opposition, media circles said hinting that military intelligence of the Colombo establishment has turned its focus on handling the Tamil diaspora and the Sinhala expatriates abroad.