Protesters say BBC coverage is 'biased towards Tamil Tigers'

Nicki Clarke, Executive Editor of the Asia Pacific Region and Priyath Liyanage, Head of Sinhala Service of the BBC World Service were handed over the petition on Monday.

Handing over the petition, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) London organiser Rani Bulathwala and President of Sinhala Association Douglas Wickramaratne accused BBC Sandeshaya of “badly influencing the whole of the BBC on Sri Lanka’s conflict”.

Dozens of Sri Lankans protested in front of Bush House, HQ of the World Service, accuse BBC of being “sympathetic to the Tamil terrorists,” during the recent upsurge of violence in the north and the east.

	Organisers say BBC Sandeshaya 'influencing others' in the BBC

An organisation called Sri Lankans Against Terrorism (SLAT) is calling for an “unbiased” coverage on the long running conflict in the island nation.

“Viewed internationally as an icon for the dissemination of the truth about various countries and their affairs, it (BBC) has been less than impartial or straightforward or factual in its reports about Sri Lanka,” a statement by the SLAT said.

The protest was organised by London branch of SLFP headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and some other Sinhala organisations.

Earlier, there were media reports that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the SLFP to stay away from the protest.