BBC says sorry for mistaking Sri Lankan President Sirisena for Modi

The BBC on Friday apologised for mistakenly referring to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a live news broadcast of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in UK.

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Subhayan Chakraborty
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BBC says sorry for mistaking Sri Lankan President Sirisena for Modi

The BBC apologised for referring to Sri Lankan President as Indian Prime Minister (Source: PTI)

The BBC on Friday apologised for mistakenly referring to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a live news broadcast of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in UK.

In a live broadcast on Thursday, Sirisena was seen arriving in his car at the Buckingham Palace to join the other heads of government for the CHOGM launch hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. And the BBC news presenter said, “Modi, the Prime Minister of India since May 2014 arriving at Buckingham Palace".

"This was a mistake made during a live broadcast and we apologise for our error," a BBC spokesperson said.

The news presenter on duty was given wrong information which she read out on air, according to reports.

The CHOGM is a biennial summit meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth nations. This time around, it was held in London.

CHOGM BBC News