Description

Channel 4 News Editor Ben de Pear writes in response to a 222-page book entitled Corrupted Journalism given out to journalists attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka.

In the course of 2011 and 2012, Britain's Channel 4 television broadcast two one-hourlong programmes, Sri Lanka's Killing Fields and Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished. They alleged that war crimes and human rights abuses took place in 2009 in Sri Lanka's north-eastern Vanni region, in the last months of the civil war fought between the Government of Sri Lanka and the "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" (LTTE, also known as the "Tamil Tigers") terrorist movement. These allegations were leveled at senior Sri Lankan political leaders, defense officials and military commanders. It became immediately apparent that the programs were unprofessional, prejudiced and inaccurate, both in the content presented, the claims made as well as in the material and facts they omitted. They were clear-cut examples of western media arrogance. This arrogance was compounded further by the British media regulator's dismissal of complaints about glaring inaccuracies in Channel 4's programmes, stating that "there is no requirement in the [British Broadcasting] Code for issues to be treated with due accuracy". This book dissects Channel 4's claims and examines the power of the western media to distort and misinform perceptions of events within the developing world and the lessons that can be drawn from the experience. Engage Sri Lanka was established to make the case for the United Kingdom engaging more closely with Sri Lanka. Britain has a close historical, cultural and economic relationship with Sri Lanka and it is important that we maintain and develop our connection with one of our oldest partners. In an age of economic uncertainty, British business should make the most of its reputation in Sri Lanka and expand its involvement in the Sri Lankan economy.

Sri Lanka's commercial law is based on that of the United Kingdom and this is coupled with a skilled work force. Britain is already the second largest market after the United States for Sri Lankan exports. World Bank figures show that the Sri Lankan economy is growing by 8 percent a year. Sri Lanka is also a strategic partner for British business in South Asia and a key point of entry into the rapidly growing Indian market. Sri Lanka has the highest ranking in the World Bank's 'Ease of doing business' ratings in the region. The United Kingdom needs to engage as fully and vigorously as possible with Sri Lanka. British business already faces fierce competition from China and other countries. Engage Sri Lanka will seek to analyze and where necessary challenge any obstacles to our country's political and economic relationship with Colombo.