A landmark initiative to strengthen environmental journalism in Sri Lanka has been launched by Expertise France and the European Union, in partnership with Canal France International (CFI) and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI).
Backed by the EU‑funded Green Recovery Facility, the “Media Capacity Building Programme for the Promotion of the Green Transition” aims to equip journalists with the skills and tools to report on climate, environmental, and economic issues with greater depth and accuracy.
Environmental journalism in Sri Lanka has traditionally given significant attention to natural disasters and their impacts. This initiative provides an opportunity for journalists to broaden this coverage by exploring a wider range of environmental issues, including climate finance, green investment, sustainable development, biodiversity, and the policy and economic dimensions of the green transition.
The programme will support journalists in strengthening their technical and investigative skills to explore these issues in greater depth and produce sustained, evidence-based reporting. Participants will be equipped with tools to analyse complex climate finance issues, examine public policies, and follow the flow and impact of green investments.
For Sri Lanka, ‘green transition’ is not an abstract concept; it is a pathway to urgently needed macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth. However, for this transition to succeed, the public must be well-informed, and institutions must be held accountable.
By empowering reporters to translate highly technical financial and governance concepts into accessible public-interest narratives, this project ensures that everyday citizens understand how green policies impact their livelihoods, energy prices, and communities. Crucially, it aims to mainstream the lens of ‘just transition’ and gender equity by encouraging the voices and perspectives of women and vulnerable populations to be heard, considered, and taken into account in the national environmental discourse.
The programme is designed to deliver high-impact, nationwide action. Implemented by Expertise France (EF), in partnership with Canal France International (CFI), the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), and the Ministry of Mass Media as the primary institutional beneficiary, it moves beyond traditional classroom-based learning.
In a joint statement, the group outlined the following key highlights of the initiative:
- Trilingual Foundation Training: Intensive capacity building for 60 journalists across Sinhala, Tamil, and English media to ensure nationwide reach and inclusivity.
- Mentored “Story Labs”: The rollout of six intensive Story Labs where journalists will receive direct editorial mentoring to investigate, produce, and publish high-quality, data-driven green transition stories
- Youth Outreach: Engaging journalism students and young media practitioners through university and youth activities to develop stories on green transition and public policy issues.
- Learning and Sharing Networking Event: Bringing together journalists, experts, policymakers, and key stakeholders to share learning, showcase stories produced through the programme, reflect on knowledge gained, and develop future story ideas on green transition issues.
Ultimately, this initiative aims to strengthen the role of Sri Lankan media as a vital catalyst for informed public dialogue, enabling journalists to engage the public as the nation advances its sustainable economic recovery, the statement said.
Journalists interested in participating will be invited to apply through an official call for applications, which will be announced through the SLPI social media channels and relevant media networks. (Newswire)