'The Nation' Chief Editor relieved of duties
Tuesday, 02 September 2008 14:01
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Chief Editor of 'The Nation' Lalith Alahakoon has been relieved of his editorial duties with immediate effect and Business Editor Gamini Abeywardena given the overall responsibility of the English language weekly by its publisher, Rivira Media Corp. (Pvt.) Ltd.
The sidelining of the senior journalist has come after he had passed a copy criticizing the ambassador to the US Jaliya Wickramasuriya, for publication on the August 24th issue of the newspaper.
To protest the move, News Editor Munza Mushtaq and Chief Sub Editor Marianne David had tendered their resignations a week later.
Accepting their letters yesterday (Sept. 01st), the management had notified the two journalists to vacate the premises immediately.
Leading local businessman Sena Yakdehige had formed Rivira Media some years ago, and later sold a 49 per cent stake to Nilanka Rajapaksa and the remaining 51 pc to deputy chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. Col. Prasanna Wickramasuriya, both being close relatives of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The latter is a younger brother of the Sri Lankan ambassador in the US, about whom the article in question had made the references.
Meanwhile, Port and Civil Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa has recommended Mr. Prasanna Wickramasuriya to succeed Saliya Wickramasuriya as chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, SLPA sources said.
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The reason for sidelining the editor Lalith Alahakoon and the resignation of the news editor Munza Mushtaq was after the news editor Mushtaq wrote an article on Jaliya Wickramasuriya referring to a recent article published in the Washington Times written by Bruice Fein.
The link to that story is as follows:http://www.nation.lk/2008/08/24/news6.htm
The news editor can be contacted at munzaa@gmail.com
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