BBC blames Sri Lanka for targetted interference, suspends broadcasts

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 March 2013, 03:50 GMT]
"We regret the disruption in service to our loyal audiences in Sri Lanka, but such targeted interference in our programmes is a serious breach of trust with those audiences, which the BBC cannot allow," BBC World Service Director Peter Horrocks announced Tuesday suspending broadcasts to Sri Lanka. Both English language and Tamil services broadcast via the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) have been stopped with immediate effect, the BBC reported.

Mr Horrocks said that if the SLBC had specific complaints about any BBC output "they should take them up with us, as we have invited them to do, and not interfere directly with broadcasts in ways that are unacceptable to the BBC and misleading to our audiences".

Audiences in Sri Lanka can continue to listen to the BBC on shortwave and via its online services.

The BBC took similar action in 2009 when its services were also disrupted.

Sri Lankan state run SLBC, which airs BBC World Service programmes in FM, deliberately jammed BBC Tamil 17 times and BBC Sinhala 8 times, between 27 November and early January 2009, the BBC World Service Press Office said in 2009 before suspending broadcasts.

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09.02.09   SLBC jamming FM broadcast prompts BBC to suspend partnership


External Links:

BBC:		BBC suspends Sri Lanka broadcasts due to 'interference'
CPJ:		BBC halts service in Sri Lanka after broadcasts disrupted