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‘Structural constraints on SA media undermined prospects for regional amity – Himal Southasian Editor

Published

3 weeks ago

2026/02/12

Himal Southasian Editor Roman Gautam (extreme left) addressing the gathering

Himal Southasian Editor Roman Gautam has said that despite many journalists’ best intentions to foster regional cooperation, structural constraints within which South Asian media operates have significantly undermined prospects for regional amity. While acknowledging continued journalistic intent across the region, some which have managed to prevail, he identified financial dependence, political subordination, and the growing gap between intent and outcome as central challenges facing regional media.

Gautam made these observations when he addressed the RCSS Strategic Dialogue – 3 on the theme “Where does the media stand in connecting (or dividing) Southasia?”, on 2 February 2026 at the Board Room of the RCSS in Colombo. Moderated by the Executive Director of the RCSS Amb. (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha, it brought together serving and retired senior public servants, diplomats, academics, and civil society representatives, and journalists, with additional participation via Zoom of members of the recently formed ‘RCSS Alumni Network’ spread across the globe. ED Aryasinha highlighted the longstanding common vision shared between Himal Southasian founded in 1987 and the RCSS founded in 1992, at a time there were real possibilities for South Asian regionalism and collaboration. He noted that despite the turbulence over the years, both Himal Southasian and the RCSS retained its ‘South Asian Regional Spirit’ enabling scholars and writers in South Asian, and also focussing on South Asia to collaborate on issues of shared concern, retaining a foundation of trust and cross-border engagement.

Gautam opened his remarks by acknowledging the historical role of journalists in South Asian regionalism, noting that journalists have always been involved in informing regional populations about each other and, particularly during the heyday of track-two diplomacy, actively working toward reconciliation across borders. However, he questioned whether fostering state-to-state connections should be the journalists’ role and responsibility, even through track-two channels. More critically, despite continued intent among many journalists across initiatives in the region, a realistic assessment shows severe limitations in fostering genuine regional spirit. The answer, he emphasized, lies in examining the structures within which journalists work today, rather than questioning their motivations or commitment.

He presented cases from recent upheavals in Nepal and Bangladesh to illustrate how media coverage served domestic political interests at the cost of regional goodwill. In each case, stray opinions voiced by a few participants were seized upon and fed to audiences in sensational fashion, with no effort to canvass broader opinion or extensively research issues. Selective coverage that pandered to domestic political interests ignored ground realities and broader contexts. Gautam traced these patterns as pandering to structural realities: reliance on government advertising, corporate capture creating vulnerabilities to state pressure, and ideological alignment. The need for financial survival prompted media to subscribe to official narratives, as failure to abide by the official line could spell financial ruin. Gautam who characterized social media as enabling understanding but also extremism, suggested regional platforms could help bring journalists together, and acknowledged the dire situation faced by persecuted journalists, with no real support mechanisms.

Gautam also discussed SAARC’s past contributions and constraints. Though designed to promote regional collaboration, the organisation’s impact has been limited by political friction, especially between India and Pakistan. However, he noted that programs such as RCSS’s workshops and fellowships prove that non-governmental actors, particularly journalists, can facilitate mutual understanding across borders, even if on a smaller scale. He underscored that such modest initiatives are crucial for building dialogue and knowledge-sharing traditions in South Asia.

During the discussion, participants explored social media’s impact, SAARC revitalization, generational shifts in media consumption, press freedom, disinformation and journalist persecution. Participants debated whose ‘South Asia’ is being discussed, with Gautam emphasizing it as a common cause built on synergies rather than belonging to any single conception. The power-based nature of the current global order was highlighted, with observations that even brave journalists find themselves let down by institutions, and that both external and internal factors limit media’s role in regionalism.

A principal question raised was whether this critique referred to the totality of media or to specific divisive elements. Gautam clarified that all media is not a monolithic and that independent journalists continue working outside these structures across the region, some successfully. He highlighted the efforts being made by Himal Southasian and others to preserve that space. However, an overall point made was that as a result of these structural constraints and negative media practices, South Asian regionalism has suffered badly. He acknowledged that as matters stand currently, there is a very real information gap about South Asian realities among South Asian publics. This was a huge problem that needs to be managed reflectively, and the region’s more enlightened media could play a constructive role in taking up this challenge.

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Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee departs island

Published

12 hours ago

2026/03/6

Priyan

The Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee which arrived in Sri Lanka for replenishment purposes, departed the island on 04 Mar 26.

In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo

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‘IRIS Dena was Indian Navy guest, hit without warning’, Iran warns US of bitter regret

Published

24 hours ago

2026/03/6

Thilina Walpola

A day after a US submarine sunk an Iranian Navy warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Sayed Abbas Araghchi, has warned that the US would “pay bitterly” for targeting a ship in international waters, The Tribune has reported.

Araghchi posted on social media platform X on Thursday saying, “The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.”

The frigate IRIS Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning, said the Iran Foreign Minister, adding, “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”

US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, on Wednesday confirmed that a US submarine fired a torpedo and sank the Iranian Navy vessel IRIS Dena west of Sri Lanka.

In a way, the Iran and US-Israel conflict has reached close to the Indian coast. The strike today at sea was almost 4,000 kms away from Iran, significantly expanding the radius of war. Already, fearing Iranian missile strikes, several US warships have moved eastward towards India.

These ships are in international waters. India has denied that any US Navy assets were using Indian ports. The Iranian ship, hit on Wednesday, was returning after participating in the international fleet review and exercise Milan hosted by India at Visakhapatnam.

The Iranian ship went down with almost 130 sailors on board missing. The Sri Lankan Navy, acting on a distress call, rescued 32 of the Iranian sailors. Hegseth confirmed the act by the US forces, saying the ship was hit in the Indian Ocean, stating, “an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. .. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo”.

Hegseth did not name the Iranian ship that was attacked. But earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy reported the distress call from IRIS Dena when it was some 40 kms west of Galle, located on the south-western part of the island country. On February 16, the Iranian ship had sailed into the port of Visakhapatnam, where seventy-four nations participated.

Warships from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and dozens of others were anchored alongside the now-sunk Iranian vessel. Iran’s Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, held talks with India’s Chief of Naval Staff on strengthening maritime security cooperation.

The theme was “United through Oceans.” Notably, the US Navy was supposed to send the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney to the exercise Milan; however, the ship was diverted to Singapore on February 15. The US did not field its warship in Milan, which had ships from Russia and Iran.

The exercise ended on February 25. Three days later, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury. The IRIS Dena was transiting home. This morning at 5:08 a.m. local time, the IRIS Dena issued a distress call. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, informed parliament that two navy vessels and an aircraft were deployed. Thirty crew members were rescued and admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle.

The Straits Times reported 32 critically wounded survivors. Reuters reported 101 missing and 78 wounded. The Sri Lankan Navy spokesman said the operation was conducted in line with the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.

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Risk of power cuts due to use of low-quality coal,PUCSL warns

Published

24 hours ago

2026/03/6

Thilina Walpola

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has warned of a possible risk of power cuts due to the use of inferior quality coal affecting generation capacity at the Lakvijaya Power Plant, according to a recent commission report.

The commission said the risk to the continuous electricity supply was assessed based on the peak demand forecast submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for 2026.

According to the report, the analysis assumed that hydropower plants could contribute up to 1,300 MW to meet the night peak demand, while the Lakvijaya Power Plant (LVPS) would be able to contribute only up to 690 MW due to a capacity shortfall, assuming a 40 MW generation capacity reduction from each unit.

The PUCSL said the assessment was carried out taking into account the planned maintenance schedule submitted by the CEB. Under the schedule, Unit 1 of the Lakvijaya plant is due to undergo maintenance checks and repairs in June for a period of 25 days, while Unit 2 is scheduled for maintenance in July for another 25 days.

The report also noted that the 270 MW West Coast Power Plant is scheduled to undergo maintenance in April for 10 days, while the 150 MW Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant (KCCP 2) is expected to undergo maintenance during May, June and July.

Under normal conditions, the report said, there is a potential risk of a generation capacity shortage if electricity demand reaches 3,030 MW in April, 3,070 MW in June and 3,000 MW in July.

The highest recorded night peak demand so far in 2026 was 2,949 MW on February 25.

The PUCSL further warned that if one coal unit or any major power plant becomes unavailable from the existing generation mix, there would be a significant risk of a generation capacity shortage to meet the night peak demand, particularly during April, June and July.

Energy sector analysts said the use of substandard coal could further aggravate operational challenges at the Norochcholai plant, potentially affecting generation efficiency and reliability if corrective measures are not taken promptly.

By Ifham Nizam