Foreign journalists invited by government held up at airport
Three foreign journalists who arrived last Tuesday on an invitation from the government were threatened with deportation for seeking to enter the country without undergoing a mandatory vetting process.
07 Mar 2017, 9:00 AM
Three foreign journalists who arrived last Tuesday on an invitation from the government were threatened with deportation for seeking to enter the country without undergoing a mandatory vetting process.
A deputy editor from Climate Home, a writer from The New Scientist and a freelancer from The Guardian were held at the Velana International Airport for three hours after immigration officials learned that they were journalists.
The all-expenses-paid trip was organised on behalf of the government by London-based PR agency BTP Advisers to seek coverage on environmental issues, according to Ibrahim Hussain Shihab, the international spokesman at the president’s office.
“The journalists were here on our invitation and they spoke with various government officials and experts regarding the environment and related issues. They also spoke with members of the public and NGOs,” he said.
Become a member
Get full access to our archive and personalise your experience.
Already a member?
Discussion
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
No comments yet. Be the first to join the conversation!
Join the Conversation
Sign in to share your thoughts under an alias and take part in the discussion. Independent journalism thrives on open, respectful debate — your voice matters.
