AIR's former Colombo correspondent dead

Mr A Karuppasamy of the Indian Information Service who served as All India Radio's Colombo correspondent during the turbulent days of August 1991 when ruling United National Party rebels led by Mr Lalith Athulathmudali and Mr Gamini Dissanayake made anabortive attempt to impeach the then President, Mr R Premadasa, died at his residence here on Tuesday. He was 70 and leaves his wife, three sons and two daughters.

Mr Karuppasamy was posted to Colombo soon after Mr Premadasa's election as the country's second executive President in December 1988 and served till the impeachment motion was rejected by the then Speaker, Mr M. H. Mohamed.

Mr Karuppasamy was expelled from the country soon after, because AIR was used by the Indian mission as a tool to get back at Mr Premadasa for having ignominiously sent out the Indian Peace Keeping Force.

Mr Karuppasamy, who was the first news editor of Doordarshan ( Government television channel) in Chennai, retired as regional director of the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, southern region, Bangalore ten years ago.

During his 34 years service, he held various posts, including News Editor of AIR in New Delhi.

- Asian Tribune -