(We produce here a news item published in the Sunday Times, June 24, 2007 CJ off to HK despite protests which was a completely fabricated story).
We also reproduce below a copy of a letter written to the Editor, Sinha Ratnatunga, by the Asian Human Rights Commission denying this story and seeking a correction.
CJ off to HK despite protests
Chief Justice Sarath N Silva left yesterday for Hong Kong to attend a seminar ignoring threats by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) to hold a protest against him.
He is due to attend a conference entitled Hong Kong Basic Law: the first ten years and its future organized by the City University.
Justice Silva was due to leave earlier this week for the event, but had been delayed due to logistical arrangements. The AHRC was planning to hold a demonstration on Friday against Justice Silva, but eventually called off the protest saying the Chief Justice had postponed his visit.
However the Chief Justice yesterday went ahead with his proposed visit. The AHRC also had sent a letter to the acting President and the Dean of the School of Law of the City University regarding the participation of the Chief Justice at the conference.
Meanwhile Supreme Court Judge Nihal Jayasinghe was sworn in as the Acting Chief Justice before President Mahinda Rajapaksa last morning.
(The Sunday Times June 24, 2007)
The letter written to the Sunday Times by the Asian Human Rights Commission
Mr. Sinha Ratnatunga – Editor
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Sunday Times Newspaper
No. 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road
Colombo 2. P.O. Box: 1136, Colombo 2
Sri Lanka.
Fax: +94-011-2423922, +94-011-2423258
Dear Mr. Ratnatunga,
Re: CJ off to HK despite protest
We refer to the news item CJ off to HK despite protest which appeared in your newspaper on Sunday, June 24, 2007.
We regret to inform you that this news item is completely false and believe that a correction should be published forthwith. The news item states that Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva left yesterday for Hong Kong to attend a seminar, Hong Kong Basic Law: the first ten years and its future. In fact, the Chief Justice did not attend this seminar.
After seeing the news item in your paper the Asian Human Rights Commission wrote to the City University of Hong Kong seeking confirmation as to whether the Chief Justice did, in fact attend this meeting. We received the following message from Professor Anton Cooray, professor of the School of Law:
Dear Mr Sloan,
I confirm that Chief Justice Sarath Silva did not participate in the Basic Law conference.
Regards.
Anton Cooray
(Recd 6/25/2007 12:34pm)
Previously, Prof. Cooray wrote to us, stating:
Dear Basil,
I wish to inform you that the Chief Justice Sarath Silva has decided not to participate in the Basic Law conference. This is for your information.
Best wishes
Anton Cooray
(Recd 6/21/2007 4:32pm)
It is quite obvious that the reporter of this news item has written a completely fabricated story and that the news editor has not bothered to check for accuracy or facts before allowing this story to be printed. The publication of a completely false story of this nature raises many questions as to the source of this fabrication. The news item also creates the impression that the Chief Justice went to Hong Kong to attend a conference in stating that, Meanwhile Supreme Court Judge Nihal Jayasinghe was sworn in as Acting Chief Justice before President Mahinda Rajapaksa last morning,
If you require further confirmation you may contact the City University of Hong Kong. The contact details of which are as follows:
City University of Hong Kong
Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Phone: (852) 2788 7654
Fax: (852) 2788 1167
Email: webmaster@cityu.edu.hk
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Basil Fernando
Executive Director
Asian Human Rights Commission
See the original letter of protest and subsequent statement at AHRC-OL-021-2007 and AS-129-2007.
