NRK has ignored calls from the Sri Lankan Embassy to cancel transmitting a contentious programme.

The Foreigner  Wednesday, 28th September, 2011

NRK has ignored calls from the Sri Lankan Embassy to cancel transmitting a contentious programme.

Last night’s compelling, and controversial documentary on NRK2 revealed the reality of Sri Lanka’s bloody war with society. It was originally broadcast on the UK’s Channel 4 Dispatches series back in June 2011.

The programme was heavily criticised by Sri Lankan authorities, who initially attempted to halt the Norwegian channel from showing the extremist group Tamil Tigers’ cruel intentions.

In an official statement before the show, with an expected six-figure audience, embassy staff wrote: “We urge NRK 2 not to air the UK Channel 4 program and give coverage to content which is unsubstantiated and without any guarantee of authenticity.”

“At a time when a great deal of efforts are underway for reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka, this type of sinister and unsubstantiated visual material could inflame the passions of those elements concerned only about carving out a mono-ethnic enclave against the wishes of Sri Lankan nationals treading on democratic pluralistic ideals.”

Whilst it is unknown if there were any complaints about last night’s broadcast, British television complaints commissioner Ofcom announced 37 people criticised the programme’s distressing content.

The Tamil Tigers hit the Norwegian headlines earlier this year, when police arrested a 34-year-old man in February on suspicion of murdering three people, including an officer

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Lankan embassy in Oslo angry

 Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Sri Lankan Ambassador in Oslo, Norway Rodney M. Perera, has protested the decision by a leading Norwegian television station to air the British Channel 4 documentary titled “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” yesterday.

In a letter sent to TV NRK, the Ambassador said that the program content is completely biased and contains unsubstantiated allegations against the government of Sri Lanka.

The Ambassador said that at a time when a great deal of efforts are underway for reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka, this type of sinister and unsubstantiated visual material could inflame the passions of those elements concerned only about carving out a mono-ethnic enclave against the wishes of Sri Lankan nationals treading on democratic pluralistic ideals.

“The obvious bias of the program is further illustrated by the fact that a major portion of the dubious video footage has been acquired from LTTE-related sources,” the Ambassador said in the letter, a copy of which was made available to the media by TV NRK.

The Ambassador warned that the safety and security of not only the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Oslo and its staff, but that of all persons of  Sri Lankan origin residing in Norway, could be compromised by these types of telecasts.

However at the same time he also urged NRK to consider telecasting the video titled “Lies Agreed Upon,” a documentary released by the Ministry of Defence which looks to counter the Channel 4 video.