Chinese New Agency Xinhua has sacked a local journalist after he co-authored an article that was critical of the Chinese government’s handling of the Covid 19 pandemic.
In an article that appeared on local English daily the ‘Daily Mirror’ a consumer rights organization was quoted as saying the Chinese government was to be blamed for the Covid 19 pandemic. This article had appeared during the month of April.
Following its publication, local journalist Indika Sri Aravinda who co-authored it who also worked for the Xinhua agency has been sacked by the organization. Aravinda had been working as a video and news journalist for the Chinese news agency. He had not been given any valid reason for his dismissal. Despite writing to the organization stressing that he was merely quoting the consumer rights organization and requesting a chance to explain himself, Aravinda said he has not heard back from the agency.
According to reports the Chinese Embassy in Colombo had also attempted to exert pressure on ‘Daily Mirror’ over the article published by them. The Embassy had insisted the paper carries its response to the claim made by the consumer rights organization.
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