By Walter Jayawardhana

The Australian Communication and Media Authority after an investigation found certain programs broadcast by the SBS Radio were bias towards Tamil Tigers and contravened the radio stationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s own code of principles.

The authority said the Tamil language programs on the activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were bias towards the terrorist outfit.

The authority said the SBS breached its own codes of practice (2006) in broadcasts of the SBS radio programƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Tamil Language Program in October 2008 and January 2009.

The authority said both programs dealt with aspects of the conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist outfit.

“In the first episode aired on October 26, 2008, it included an interview with a critic of the Sri Lankan government, while the second broadcast, on January 18, 2009, included comments on anatrocity allegedly committed by members of the Sri Lankan army,sourced from an online video, News.com.au reports.

“ACMA found that no other views were offered during the program and the requirement for balance in the SBS code had been breached. t also emphasised that SBS had not confirmed the video’s authenticity that was aired on January 2009 and that the code’s requirement of accurate factual content was breached.

“ACMA has also said that it would not any action against SBS, as the channel has already counselled the presenters involved inthe broadcasts”