Sri Lanka deports three British journalists

Colombo: Sri Lanka deported three journalists from London-based Channel 4 television on Sunday, a day after they were arrested for alleged false reporting on the island's civil war.

Lakshman Hulugalle, the head of the government security information centre, said the journalists admitted they had "done something wrong" and would not be allowed to come back to Sri Lanka.

Nick Paton-Walsh, the channel's Asian correspondent, spoke to The Associated Press from Singapore and denied giving a statement to police or admitting wrongdoing.

"This is complete rubbish," he said.

Walsh said he, producer Bessie Du and cameraman Matt Jasper were detained by police in the eastern town of Trincomalee and asked to give a statement, but he refused.

Later a man in plain clothes spoke to him and took down notes saying those were for his future reference, he said.

Walsh said on Saturday that he believed the arrests were connected to his recent report on the conditions of the war refugees and alleged sexual abuse in camps for those who fled the northern war zone.

ITN News, which produces Channel 4, said their original report, broadcast on May 5, contained the first independently filmed video from one of the displacement camps.

"The report contained claims that dead bodies were left where they fell, shortages of food and water, and sexual abuse," it said

The government has denied the Channel 4 report.