IJ Trainers trained

Transparency International Sri Lanka conducted a well- designed five day Train the Trainer (ToT) program to groom 23 senior journalists and university academics on basic methods of Investigative Journalism (IJ). The workshop which was supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung was held at Pegasus Reef Hotel, Wattala.

The programme was conducted by an internationally reputed trainer Dr.Thiru Wenkatgaswami from India with the support of local experts. Through the trained pool of IJ trainers, TISL will develop and build the essential skills of other prospective trainers including those currently engaged in the craft and other stakeholder groups in their respective localities.

On request, these trainers will be available for IJ training programmes conducted by TISL.

As part of the collaborative effort to promote investigative journalism in Sri Lanka, TISL together with FES has developed an investigative journalism resource book, a practitioner’s handbook and a trainer’s manual exclusively for local journalists.

These products, the first of its kind to be developed in Sri Lanka which will help to enhance professionalism among practitioners were introduced to the trainers during the ToT programme.

The participants agreed that the programme enhanced their training skills.

Welcoming the participants, Dr. Wijaya Jayathilaka, CEO of TISL said that TISL believes investigative journalism concepts should be shared with a wider cross section of people to encourage enhanced citizens’ engagement in the democracy discourse.

“Public spirited journalism can flourish only with strong civic engagement. While the investigative journalism practitioners play the role of message multipliers, it is the conscious citizens, the whistleblowers and activists through proactive sharing of information who enhance journalism that fosters inclusion and promotes democracy, equity and justice in a society,” he said.