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| Courtesy:Awantha Artigala |
By Andrew Patrick
After arriving in Sri Lanka in 2023, one of the things that struck me was the breadth and vitality of its media landscape.
I’ve often recounted to the journalists I’ve met how the English-language press alone has as many papers in daily circulation as there are in the UK. To me, this reflects the wide spectrum of views and opinions I’ve heard from journalists from the Sinhala, English, and Tamil media.
At a time when journalism is seen as a profession in decline, Sri Lanka tells a more complex story. One that underlines why a free, independent press remains central to a strong democracy, and why protecting it is more important than ever for our nations’ shared prosperity.
Among the many journalists I’ve had the privilege of meeting are the alumni of the South Asia Journalism Fellowship (SAJP), a Chevening programme funded by the UK that brings journalists from across the region to the University of Westminster for a fully funded eight-week programme.
Upon their return, many have gone on to expand their roles and build on their experience in the UK. Programmes like these reflect the ever-expanding ties between the UK and Sri Lanka, and it is something I have seen most clearly in the fellows themselves.
Rathindra Kuruwita, a 2024 SAJP alumnus, reflected: “I got into journalism for two reasons. I thought writing was my calling and I believed that journalism, when done with impartiality, depth, and courage, can change the world. At 20, that mattered deeply to me. I joined the SAJP in 2024, after 18 years in journalism.
“My time in the UK gave me time to reflect and reassess my work. I met 19 brilliant journalists from South Asia, some great mentors from the University of Westminster, and some veteran journalists in the UK. Listening to their work and the change they made reminded me that press freedom is the foundation that allows journalists to question power and inform citizens.”
Through these conversations, I have come to appreciate the journalists who define Sri Lanka’s media – determined, curious, and committed to public interest reporting, reflecting a strong democratic tradition that shapes our bilateral ties. In a world where facts and fiction blur, journalists remain central to freedom and democracy.
Globally, however, the outlook is sobering. Press freedom has seen its steepest decline in over 50 years. More journalists have been killed in the line of duty since 2020 than ever before. The conflict in Gaza, and now Lebanon, has been among the most lethal for the press in recent memory.
In Sri Lanka, the legacy of the war and the cloud of violence continue to hang over the journalistic community. Several of the most significant human rights cases from that period concern journalists who reported on the conflict, many of them working in the north and east.
This is a reflection of the bravery and determination of Sri Lanka’s cadre of journalists, and the enduring strength of the democratic tradition that continues to inspire a generation of young journalists that I’ve had the opportunity to meet. Past abuses nonetheless reinforce the need to address these cases in a way that is transparent.
The media landscape has evolved considerably since, and there are reasons for optimism. A dynamic digital media sphere and a new generation of journalists that platformed the demands of the ‘Aragalaya’ are as committed as ever to public interest reporting. These are all good signs, yet there remains room for progress.
Building a media environment that truly supports journalists is an ongoing task for all countries, including the UK. To get there, decision-making must be shaped through continuous consultation, as well as strong legal protections, editorial independence, and journalists’ safety, both online and in the field.
Reflecting on these challenges, Sonali Wanigabaduge, a 2023 SAJP alumna, shared: “I strongly believe that as a society, we have a collective responsibility to herald a culture of empathy-centred journalism that is geared towards uplifting the ethos of humanity and the human condition, to forge a future that is inclusive and joyful.
“The future of journalism will invariably be interlinked with widespread usage of Artificial Intelligence, urgently requiring us to independently develop (further) our critical thinking skills, and actively put in place strong enough guardrails that protect society from its unethical, unlawful, and exclusionary utilisation.
“Effectively advocating for such tools to be used in enhancing systems such as healthcare and education; protecting women, children, and marginalised groups; and challenging power imbalances, is an aspect that we as journalists need to urgently strive towards.”
The UK remains at the forefront of these global conversations. This May, the UK takes on the role of Co-Chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, leading the international response to the multiple threats facing journalism around the world. Our leadership will seek to create a global partnership that helps countries support a viable independent media, navigate the opportunities and risks of new technology, and tackle the challenges facing women journalists, who face disproportionate levels of harassment.
That commitment is also embodied in programmes like the SAJP, because lasting change in any media landscape is driven not by policy alone, but by the journalists themselves. The impact of the fellowship is felt most strongly after fellows return home.
Rubatheesan Sandranthan, a 2024 SAJP alumnus, described how the experience had both shaped his work in Sri Lanka and provided him with a more integrated understanding of the media landscape, not just across the South Asian region but in the UK and well beyond.
“During my fellowship last year (2025), I learnt about the impact of investigative journalism when coupled with data insights. With more young audiences online in the UK and worldwide, hard-hitting, long-form investigative pieces were packaged as multimedia content to reach them through social media platforms, something I have learnt and adopted in my newsroom.
“As our societies become increasingly polarised by misinformation, factual, hard-hitting investigative reporting has become more relevant than ever. With newsrooms struggling to cope with budget cuts and layoffs, the fellowship, which brought journalists from across the South Asian region together, taught us that the future of journalism is cross-border collaboration, where journalists can work on a common, pressing issue in the region.”
The relationship between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka is built on mutual respect and shared values. A free and independent press is one of those values, and it is one that both our countries, in their different ways, are committed to upholding. On World Press Freedom Day, I am proud of the partnership we have built, and I look forward to deepening it in the years ahead. (Courtesy- The Morning )
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| Andrew Patrick is the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka |
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