BBC programmes on SLBC again

BBC World Service is reinstating its FM programming on the Sri Lankan national broadcaster SLBC from today.

This is the first time BBC English, Sinhala and Tamil programmes being rebroadcast on the SLBC FM network for 14 months.

The BBC programmes were suspended in February last year “following deliberate interference in its broadcasts,” BBC said in a statement.

During the suspension, the BBC’s services in all three languages remained available in Sri Lanka via short wave; on bbc.com/news, bbcsinhala.com and bbctamil.com via the Internet; and news bulletins in English via the Sri Lankan commercial broadcaster MBC.

Director of BBC Global News Peter Horrocks said that the BBC wishes to rebuild its partnership with SLBC.

“We have been reassured by SLBC that our contractual agreement will be respected, which guarantees that our programmes in English, Sinhala, and Tamil are broadcast uninterrupted,” he said.

Mr. Horrocks added that the BBC audiences value the editorial intergrity of its programming.

“Our audiences understand that in order to cover news events in the most comprehensive and balanced way, the BBC adheres to specific editorial values that include impartiality, editorial independence and seeking a relevant range of views on any topic,” he said.

© BBC Sinhala