Colombo, Jan.21 (newsin.asia) – The BBC Sinhala service has accepted the resignation of its Colombo based correspondent, Azzam Ameen following a controversial telephone conversation which was leaked out in the public between Ameen and UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake last week.
Ameen had tendered his resignation to BBC with effect from January 1, but it had not been accepted by the BBC Sinhala Service at the time.
However the resignation was accepted on Tuesday after a huge public outcry following the exposure of the telephone conversation, with many supporting Ameen while others called for him to quit the BBC service.
News reports said the private conversation between Ameen and Ramanayake was disclosed by the controversial Sinhale Organization two days ago.
Ameen had been with the BBC Sinhala service for several years, earning praise for his journalism.
Over 121,000 telephone conversations, secretly recorded by UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake have been taken into custody after he was arrested by the police a few weeks ago. Ramanayake was released on bail but was later arrested again after allegations that his telephone conversations revealed him interfering with the judiciary during the past government.
