Sri Lanka’s Center for Investigative Reporting launch

The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) was launched yesterday at the Lighthouse auditorium of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Colombo.

Consultant Editor and Defence Correspondent of The Sunday Times Iqbal Athas delivered the keynote address at the inaugural ceremony, which was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Reimagining Investigative Reporting in Sri Lanka.’

The occasion was graced by the presence of influential journalists, activists and other invitees.

According to the Executive Director of CIR Dilrukshi Handunnetti, “the Center is a collective effort of a group of journalists and media trainers who wish to raise the bar in Sri Lankan journalism. The Center is conceptualised and driven by Sri Lankan journalists for journalists here… We wish to support groundbreaking investigative reporting initiatives, adhering to the highest global professional standards.”

She added: “The Center is committed to fostering investigative journalism in Sri Lanka by working with newsrooms to enhance existing talent, and by nurturing the next generation of investigative journalists who will represent the industry’s highest standards and be equipped to challenge the culture of self-censorship by speaking truth to power.”

The Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) – an international association of nonprofit organisations that actively support, promote and produce investigative journalism – has recognised Sri Lanka’s CIR as a member.