Local Voices
The Local Voices radio program aims to link media practitioners, international humanitarian law and human rights experts and civil society networks with communities to promote inter-ethnic relations and to highlight commonalities in human rights issues affecting Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka.
The Local Voices radio programs are produced by Internews’ Media Houses in Matara, Ampara and Kalmunai. The Media Houses exist to provide a platform for the development of independent local media that:
a) serves local communities but b) feeds into a more balanced and informed portrayal of the South and East in the national broadcast and print media based in Colombo.
Current Media House activities include:
- Training programs for local journalists (through an Internews partnership with the Sri Lanka Press Institute, SLPI);
- Access to facilities for journalists to file stories/material to their Colombo outlets;
- Regular meetings and professional development seminars;
- Support for production of the “Local Voices” current affairs radio programming that looks at issues in the South and East.
The Matara Media House produces a weekly 45-minute Local Voices program broadcast on Ruhunu Sevaya FM (105.4 MHz). The Ampara Media House produces a 30-minute weekly program in Sinhala broadcast on Uva Community Radio (87.6 MHz) and in Tamil broadcast on Pirai FM (102 MHz).
You can also read stories and listen to programs on the Local Voices website >>
In addition to the Media Houses, Internews works with local partner organizations to produce radio programs on rural radio stations focusing on community issues. Internews provided a small grant and follow up support for construction of radio production studios in the local partner offices.
Women’s Resource Centre
In Kurunegala, the Women’s Resource Centre produces a weekly 30-minute program in Sinhala called “Beyond Boundaries” on women’s rights and community development issues, broadcast on Rajarata Sevaya (90.6 MHz) from 2007-2009 and from 2010 began broadcasting on Wayamba Handa (99.6 MHz) from 5:30 to 6:00 pm on Saturdays.
<< Listen to WRC’s program “Beyond Boundaries” >>
The Power Foundation
Founded in 1986 to assist plantation workers in the impoverished Hill Country, the Power Foundation received Internews support to establish the first independent radio production studio in Uva Province. Through its studio, Power Foundation produces three 30-minute programs each week in their Badulla headquarters office. Called Mullakkam (”Thunder”), this weekly program is broadcast in Tamil on Uva Community Radio (87.6 MHz) on Mondays from 8:30 to 9:00 pm, and Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:30 to 8:00 pm. The program provides information to assist in economic development, to inform estate workers of their legal and constitutional rights, and to provide marginalized people a forum to express their needs and concerns to promote accountability from authorities. Power Foundation also produces a weekly radio drama program on community issues on Saturdays.
<< Listen to Power Foundation’s program “Thunder” >>
Sarvodaya
The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement is the largest people’s organization in Sri Lanka. Sarvodaya is Sanskrit for ‘Awakening of All’ and Shramadana means to donate effort. Founded in 1958, it began in one village and has grown to more than 15,000 villages across the country. Internews assisted Sarvodaya in constructing a radio production studio in its Peace Resource Centre in Trincomalee and providing radio production training to its staff. In 2010, Sarvodaya began producing two weekly 15-minute programs in Sinhala and Tamil broadcast on local radio stations.
Sri Lanka Press Institute
Internews also works with the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) to deliver trainings to journalists on radio production, news reporting, ethics, photo journalism, elections, and human rights reporting. With its four operational arms, the Sri Lanka College of Journalism (SLCJ), the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka (PCCSL), the Advocacy and Free Media Division and the Media Resource Centre (MRC), the Institute offers training programs for aspiring and mid-career journalists, promotes self-regulation in the print media, and advocates for a free and responsible media in Sri Lanka.
