Dharisha Bastians – well deserved – Congratulations

The Mervin de Silva Journalist of the year award, and the BA Siriwardena columnist of the year – English was won by Dharisha Bastians of the Daily FT.

http://www.ft.lk/2014/08/06/daily-fts-dharisha-wins-coveted-journalist-of-the-year-award/

She is a deserving winner of both awards for her no nonsense reporting and fearless analysis of her interpretation of events, whether readers agree with her point of view or not. She is one of few journalists I make a point to read all their writings, and she does not disappoint me in her objective analysis.

Her latest column on the UVA election is also worth a read and I put the link below for anyone interested in being acquainted with her writing style, which is easy to read and understand prose.

http://www.ft.lk/2014/08/07/uva-a-high-stakes-game/

As anyone who is a regular reader of my blogs knows, I am extremely critical of journalism and journalists in Sri Lanka, and it is a breath of fresh air to read Dharisha’s writing.

I trust she goes from strength to strength, having been honored this way, and being given the confidence that she in fact has a loyal readership of news and analysis of news, which is extremely rare in Sri Lanka today.

She will no doubt improve and like my commitment to expressing fearless opinions on how I can make suggestions for practices to be improved, so that the lives of those who live in Sri Lanka are improved, no matter who is in power, I trust she will be true to her principles.

Journalism is at a critical juncture, especially in Sri Lanka, and whatever contributions that can be made to the national debate that arouse the sleeping and slumbering majority, that permits a regime to silently but forcefully take over all aspects of our lives, is a positive one.

It is then up to us, Civil Society to take up the challenge and fight for the rights of Citizens that are being steamrollered over, and impress upon politicians in Govt. and in the opposition, that these serious issues must be addressed without delay, and journalists do their part in informing the public what it is that they should be aware of that will affect their existence and future.