Iqbal Athas is a Sri Lankan journalist who sometimes contributes to CNN.[1] Athas was the defence columnist for the Sunday Times and he also contributed to Jane's Defence Weekly. He was threatened for his investigative reporting which uncovered scandals in the purchase of the arms by Sri Lankan Defence personnel, particularly the Sri Lankan Airforce.[2][3][4]

Contents

Career as journalist [link]

Iqbal Athas has been an investigative reporter on defence issues and has faced several threats to his life due to this. On February 1998 armed men entered his house and threatened him and his family as he had written about corruption in the Army and in 2002 during the ceasefire two Sri Lankan airforce officers were convicted for the attack.[5][6]

Article on Defence deal [link]

Iqbal Athas exposed corruption involved in the purchase of second-hand MiG-27 from Ukraine. Sri Lanka ordered a probe into the deal.[7] Security given to Iqbal Athas was withdrawn after this article was published.[8][9][10] The ruling SLFP party staged a protest near his house calling on him not to reveal sensitive information. International media have appealed for restoration of security.[11] Journalist W. G. Gunaratne, who translated Iqbal Athas’s articles into Sinhala for the newspaper Lankadeepa, has received death threats.[12]

There have been recent allegations that Athas is spying for the Sri Lankan regime and passing on information about the Colombo based diplomatic community, other journalists and NGO's compromising them.[13]

Flight from Sri Lanka [link]

In January 2009, it was reported that Athas had left Sri Lanka, fearing for his life.[14] However, as of 2010 he was back in Sri Lanka and writing for CNN.[15][16]

See also [link]

References [link]

  1. ^ "Police unleash tear gas as thousands protest in Sri Lanka". CNN. 10 February 2010. https://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/10/sri.lanka.violence/index.html. 
  2. ^ "Sri Lanka journalist threatened". BBC News. 18 February 1998. https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/s/w_asia/57845.stm. 
  3. ^ Human Rights Bulletin on Sri Lanka
  4. ^ Latest news from Sri Lanka in Sinhala, English and Tamil - (Lankaenews)
  5. ^ "Sri Lankan air force officers jailed". BBC News. 7 February 2002. https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1806833.stm. 
  6. ^ Concerns over safety of journalist Iqbal-Athas
  7. ^ The Sunday Times investigation reveals shocking double-deals and wheeler-dealings
  8. ^ Journalist and family under threat after withdrawal of security
  9. ^ PM announces select committee will probe multi-billion rupee transaction
  10. ^ MiG deal: All parties agree on select committee probe
  11. ^ Sri Lankan journalist, still in jeopardy, says government never offered protection
  12. ^ Life of journalist Iqbal Athas in danger after his revelations about purchase of Ukrainian Migs European and US embassies urged to protect threatened journalist
  13. ^ https://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_05_010.html Iqbal Athas is the spy who gives information about foreign diplomatic missions to Gotabhaya Details of many betrayals revealed, the traitor is among you – a warning to journalists
  14. ^ More journalists exit - Lanka Everything
  15. ^ Sri Lankan Leader Pardons Tamil Editor
  16. ^ "Detained Sri Lankan general sworn in". CNN. 22 April 2010. https://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/22/srilanka.fonseka/?hpt=T2. 

External links [link]


https://wn.com/Iqbal_Athas

Podcasts:

Famous quotes by Iqbal Athas:

"We are slipping back into a war situation. If the attacks go on, there will come a time when the army has to retaliate."
"We are seeing a war already. It's an undeclared war. We are seeing the loss of two to three people a day."
"The Tigers have built a much stronger military machine in the four years of the cease-fire. If the intensity of the war increases, there is no doubt they have developed a capability to strike in Colombo."
"It has at least been put off for the time being, but one is not sure for how long. All that has been resolved is the venue. What both sides have done is buy time."
"The Tigers have built a much stronger military machine in the four years of the ceasefire. If the intensity of the war increases, there is no doubt they have developed a capability to strike in Colombo."
"At some point the army is going to react and then the LTTE will retaliate. They have set in motion a process. At some point the bubble is bound to burst and then we do not know what will happen."
"The specter of war, at least until the 19th of April, seems to have gone away. Until then, the cease-fire is bound to hold. But while smiling at each other, both sides will continue making preparations for war."
"This is not posturing. This is a very clear indication that Geneva is becoming very doubtful. The bottom line is that they are showing that they are strong and that they can take on the military."
"The bottom line is this -- for how long can the military remain restrained? That we are just around the corner from a major confrontation is not in doubt."
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