Expertise France and the EU launch media project to strengthen environmental journalism in Sri Lanka

A significant new media project has been officially launched in Sri Lanka, aimed at enhancing environmental journalism across the nation. This initiative is the result of agreements signed between France's media development agency, Canal France International (CFI), the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), and the European Union's Green Recovery Facility programme. The project's main objective is to bolster the reporting of environmental, climate, and economic stories, going beyond the traditional focus on natural disasters.

The new "Media Capacity Building Programme for the Promotion of the Green Transition" seeks to expand the scope of environmental journalism in Sri Lanka to include crucial topics such as climate finance, green investment, sustainable development, biodiversity, and the policy and economic aspects of the green transition. Journalists participating in this programme will receive advanced training to improve their technical and investigative skills, enabling them to produce in-depth, evidence-based reporting on these complex subjects.

By empowering journalists with the necessary tools to analyze intricate climate finance issues, scrutinize public policies, and monitor the flow and impact of green investments, this project ensures that the public remains well-informed and that institutions are held accountable. Ultimately, the goal is to enable everyday citizens to grasp how green policies influence their livelihoods, energy prices, and communities.

A noteworthy aspect of this initiative is its commitment to promoting the 'just transition' and gender equity. By encouraging the inclusion of voices and perspectives from women and vulnerable populations, the programme aims to enrich the national environmental discourse. The programme, implemented by Expertise France (EF) in collaboration with CFI, SLPI, and the Ministry of Mass Media, goes beyond conventional classroom-based learning.

Key elements of the initiative include a trilingual foundation training for 60 journalists across Sinhala, Tamil, and English media, mentored "Story Labs" for intensive editorial guidance, youth outreach programs for journalism students and young media practitioners, and a Learning and Sharing Networking Event to foster collaboration and share the outcomes of the project.