USAID on Media Freedom

Officials from USAID visited Kalmunai on May 10 to carry out an on-the-spot survey on media freedom in the east.

The meeting was organised by Internews Network, which has set up training centres using USAID funds in Ampara and Kalmunai to instruct Sinhalese, Muslim, and Tamil media personnel.

The team, led by Mission Director Rebecca W. Cohn and including Economic Growth director Richard L. Edward and Country Representative Michael DeSisti, met with journalists from the coastal areas of Ampara District at the Sainthamaruthu Cooperative Union hall.

They discussed various matters at length, such as security problems, challenges faced by journalists, and relationships with editors.

The team also held a meeting with peace organisations in Ampara District to talk about various matters relating to promoting peace and development issues here.