Director General of Government Information, Mr. H.S.K.J. Bandara, stated that following a formal review of the 8,100 individuals who previously held government media accreditation, steps were taken to issue identity cards to only approximately 4,700 individuals this time.

He noted that this move aims to ensure that the privileges and welfare benefits intended for professional journalists reach those who are genuinely active in the field.

The Director General made these remarks during the inaugural session of a short-term media training program organized by the Media Research Unit of the Department of Government Information. The program, held at “Asidisi Medura” the day before yesterday (18), was designed to update the professional knowledge of journalists to promote a high-quality media culture and a sophisticated professional journalism practice.

Special Scholarship Program

Mr. Bandara further announced that a special scholarship program introduced by the government for the professional development of journalists is scheduled to be Gazetted next month. A key feature of this program is that it will be open to all qualified journalists from both state and private media institutions, without any political or organizational bias.

Adaptation to Emerging Technology

Highlighting the future of the industry, the Director General emphasized that the trajectory of journalism will be determined by technology. He urged journalists to become proficient in modern technical tools, specifically mentioning Artificial Intelligence (AI) and NotebookLM. He warned that those who fail to adapt to technology within the next five years will face significant challenges in remaining in the field.

Furthermore, he stressed that journalists should not limit themselves to urban-centric news but should focus more on real social issues faced by rural communities, such as the human-elephant conflict and poverty.

The training session was attended by a group including professional journalists and media officers from the security forces.