Center for Investigative Reporting launched

COLOMBO(News 1st) - Yesterday (January 29) saw the launch of the Center for Investigative Reporting in Colombo. The event was attended by a number of influential personnel including journalists, activists and invitees. Iqbal Athas, the consultant editor of Sunday Times addressed the crowd and he shed light on what he and his family had to go through following the expose of Mig deal irregularities back in 2006. He noted that he investigated the matter for weeks talking to his sources which included diplomats in defence security. He said that his investigations revealed that a fleet of worn out MiG27's, which had few flying hours left, was sold to the Sri Lankan Air Force through a company in Singapore. He mentioned that when more reports were made public regarding the scam, the government was incensed and unleashed a campaign of terror on him and his family. He also added the continuous expose on the Sunday Times made him "a traitor". He finally added that he was grateful for the Sirasa TV network for standing up to the truth and broadcasting a letter from Senator Joe Biden, who would later become Vice-President of the U.S.