Rajiva Wijesinha writes:

Ms. Frederica Jansz
The Editor
Sunday Leader

Dear Frederica,

I write with reference to a line that appeared in the website version of a front page article in your edition of October 1st, entitled ‘cash strapped government on a begging spree.’ I will not take issue with the headline and the strange juxtaposition of events since I understand your compulsion to express a particular political perspective, and respect the fact that you make effort to disguise this. However I am sorry that the website — though not the print version — claims that ‘Human Rights Ministry Secretary Rajiva Wijesinha was also not available for comment, at the time this edition went to press.’
Since I was happy to comment on similar issues to a range of newspapers, I am surprised that you have made this claim. I would be grateful if you could let me know when in fact your front page goes to press, and when your reporter claims he approached me.
As you are aware from the occasions on which you have sought responses or views from me, I have never refused you. Indeed, I was sorry that ‘The Leader,’ perhaps after I drew attention to inaccuracies in an article, did not contact me for information on matters relating to my work, either when I headed the Peace Secretariat or as a Secretary of this Ministry.
In this context, it was surprising that you did not refer to me either with regard to your article on Philip Alston, since this Ministry has been dealing with him for the last couple of years, and he has actually been sending me extremely entertaining letters with regard to the Channel 4 issue which suggests a bizarre bias against all Sri Lankans, inclusive of some figment of his imagination that he describes as ‘a network of Sri Lankan Professionals’. I should note that he has seemed utterly confused about whether he wanted a Sri Lankan or an international investigation, and whether this should be of an incident he has no information about or simply of a video.
I would be grateful if you could confirm receipt of this letter, and that you will be able to publish it in full.
Your sincerely,

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
Secretary
Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights

Editor’s Note: Munza Mushtaq who wrote this particular copy did in fact try calling you twice.  There was no response from your phone. She also repeatedly tried to contact Mahinda Samarasinghe.  The print version differs slightly from the online copy due to the fact that the late city edition had to be further edited due to space constraints.  While you, Mr. Wijesinha, have political masters to serve and political agendas to fulfill be under no illusion that this newspaper, thankfully, functions independent of any and all political compulsions.