Response Entitlement

I write to clarify and correct certain statements made in the Rajpal Abeynayake column in the LAKBIMAnEWS of 27 December 2009. Many readers are likely to associate the organization that I head, LIRNEasia, referred to prominentaly in the headline and content of the column (http://www.lakbimanews.lk/columns/coll.htm) Some already have.
LIRNEasia is a think tank focusing on information and communication technology policy and regulation and working in all countries of South Asia, and a few in South East Asia. It has not in the past advised and does not at present proffer advice on election strategy. LIRNEasia’s mission and all its research are publicly available on the website, www.lirneasia.net.
An example of the kind of research-based, consumer-friendly work done by LIRNEasia is the recent publicity given to broadband quality of service experience that led the Telecom Regulatory Commission to investigate the problem (http://www.lbo.lk/fullsstory.php?nid=614899951).
Most of our work is done outside Sri Lanka.
We cannot, and do not wish to , prohibit individuals who work for LIRNEasia in various capacities, including as part-time consultants, from engaging in any political activities which they are fully entitled to do as citizens. We shall be most appreciative if you will publish this clarification because it is neither accurate nor fair to portray the organization as being collectively engaged in political activity.
Rohan Samarajiva
Chair and CEO

Editor’s note: Of course Learnasia is not politically affiliated, and the columnist referred to never tried to say so. He was referring to one person who works there as a consultant, and we have no quarrel with Learnasia. If the headline of the column conveyed by some chance anything different, rest assured, we never cast any aspersions on Learnasia.