Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena presided over the ceremony at the BMICH on Wednesday (November 1) to mark the 68th anniversary convention of the Sri Lanka Press Association (SLPA).
Ten veteran journalists who have rendered a yeoman service to promote the Sri Lankan media industry were felicitated at the ceremony.
‘ Thrithwa Manga’ 68th anniversary of the SLPA was attended by Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dewi Gustina Tobing, journalists from the SAARC regional media associations including India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Religious dignitaries and a large number of prominent personalities representing the fields of media, arts and defense, family members of the veterans who felicitated and the members of the SLPA were also present.
The ceremony started after lighting the oil lamp and the garlands were placed on the photograph of veteran journalist D.F. Kariyakarawana by his son SLPA Chief Patron Muditha Kariyakarawana.
The representatives of Indian Federation of Working Journalists led by its Chairman Hemant Tiwari welcomed Minister Gunawardena according to Indian traditional customs.
At the ceremony ‘Dr.Andra Danapala’ Writership Fund was launched with Rs. One million to assist beginners entering journalism and ‘Sisira Wijesinghe’ Welfare Fund was started with a donation of Rs. one million.
The keynote address was delivered by Senior Prof. Sandagomi Coparahewa of the University of Colombo.
Ten veteran journalists including former Editor of Dinamina newspaper Mrs. Pushpa Rowell, Karunaratne Amarasinghe, S. Ganeshan, Tulin Jayaratne, Shan Wickremesinghe, Christopher Kamalendran, Mohamed Thajudeen, Lambert Pemmawadu, Kamal Liyanaarchchi and Pushpakumara Mathugama were honoured at the D.F.Kariyakarawana Memorial Media Felicitation -2023.
SLPA President Sisira Wijesinghe and SLPA Secretary General Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana also spoke.
