BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

What struck me immediately as I stepped into Colombo’s Arcade Independence Square hosting the World Press Photo Exhibition 2024 was Anne Ranasinghe’s Vivere in Pace in which the poet expounds:

‘You are reviewing an art, not the emotion

that caused it to blossom,

judging technique, design, effect.’

The fine capturing of myriad emotions in the winning photographs from six regions of the world is such that a Lankan viewer is driven to stop and ponder beyond the technique, design and effect; of physical and emotional scars inflicted on fellow humans transcending geographical, ethnic and religious boundaries. Back in 1980 when Anne Ranasinghe penned her poem, the nearest, us Lankans ‘have been to violent death was on the cinema screen’. Today, for many of us Lankans, the horrors of Gaza frozen on a lens, have become a collective experience…

World Press Photo Foundation

Based in Amsterdam, The World Press Photo Foundation established in 1955, is a global platform connecting photojournalists, documentary photographers and audiences worldwide through trustworthy storytelling. The foundation organizes the much sought-after World Press Photo Contest which recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography across the world and connects the world to the stories that matter, promoting understanding and empathy across cultures.

World Press Photo Exhibition 2024 features the winning entries of its 67^th edition. The 24 winners, six honorable mentions and two jury special mentions were selected by an independent jury of 31 eminent professionals around the world, out of 61,062 entries by 3,851 photographers from 130 countries. The exhibition which is now on a world-wide tour is presently touring here at home and is organised by the Netherlands Embassy in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI). This year’s exhibition is also significant, marking its return to the island after more than two decades. It last toured here in 2003.

A collective memory of the world

Commenting on the award-winning entries capturing critical social and environmental issues, human experiences and global stories, Bonnie Horbach, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka remarked at the press briefing announcing the exhibition: “Each photograph carries a story with it and makes us reflect on the events that happened. While some pictures are based on themes of war and suffering, others bring hope and joy. These photographs form a collective memory of the world and through these images, the stories of hundreds of photographers witnessing world events are being told to us. I believe that showcasing global issues through press photography will no doubt spark engagement and discussion. Looking through the lens of a photographer can help societies and people reflect on their own opinion and perception, as well as spark social change.”

From devastating conflicts and political upheaval to the climate crisis and the safe passage of migrants, the award-winning works documents some of the most pressing issues facing the world today. In bringing together such important stories, the selection encourages greater understanding and awareness of current events and serves as a reminder of the need for press freedom in all corners of the world. Since 2021, the contest has embraced a regional strategy, ensuring greater geographical and cultural diversity among participating photographers.

Over the years, the categories into which photos were grouped in the contest have evolved. Category names, focus and classifications have changed over the decades, and the 2022 Contest saw a shift once again, to be more globally representative with four format-based categories: Singles, Stories, Long-Term Projects, and Open Format, for each of the six global regions.

Beyond visual imagery

The World Press Photograph of the Year by Mohammed Salem titled ‘A Palestinian woman embraces the body of her niece’ is a heart-wrenching image of Inas Abu Maamar cradling her five-year-old niece who was killed along with her mother and sister when as Israeli missile struck their home in Khan Younis, Gaza. The photo taken by Salem for Reuters just days after his own wife gave birth is a ‘powerful and sad moment that sums up the broader sense of what was happening in the Gaza Strip’. Salem, a photojournalist based in the Gaza Strip, found Inas squatting on the ground, embracing the child, at the Nasser Hospital morgue where residents were going to search for missing relatives.

World Press Photo Story of the Year ‘Valim-babena’ is a thought-provoking entry which is testimony to power of photography beyond its visual appeal. The photograph which depicts Dada Paul and his granddaughter Odliatemix getting ready to go to church in Antananario, Madagascar looks an ordinary photo of a grandfather and a granddaughter at first glance. Yet, the story behind it illustrates the Malagasy principle of valim-babena– the duty of grown children to help their parents.

Paul Rakotozandriny, ‘Dada Paul’ (91) has lived with dementia for 11 years, and is cared for by his daughter Fara Rafaraniriana (41). For nine of those years, no-one knew Dada Paul was ill. His ten children assumed he had “gone mad” or attributed the symptoms to excessive alcohol consumption. Only his daughter Fara noticed something different when her father, a retired chauffeur, couldn’t find his way home after picking her up from work one day. She had never heard of the terms dementia or Alzheimer’s, but was advised to contact Masoandro Mody, the only organization in Madagascar that provides support and training to family members of people living with dementia. The organization provided her the knowledge and support she needed to care for Dada Paul.

Australian-based photographer Eddie Jim’s ‘Fighting, Not Sinking’ which clinched ‘Singles’ category from Southeast Asia and Oceania portrays Lotomau Fiafia, a community elder who stands with his grandson John at the point where he remembers the shoreline used to be when he was a boy in Salia Bay, Kioa Island in Fiji. Experiences of individuals like Lotomau provide first-hand insight into the consequences of rising sea levels on people’s ways of life. His story emphasizes the magnitude of change that has taken place in just one lifetime and makes the climate change crisis tangible to a wider audience.

Mirror of global events

Speaking to Sunday Island at the opening of the exhibition, Exhibitions Manager and Curator of World Press Photo, Martha Echevarria Gonzalez remarked: “what is exciting about this event is that we can start conversations, open up dialogues on topics that people will find difficult to talk about and this global effort can become a mirror of what happened in the world in the past few years.” Gonzalez who is on her maiden visit to the island also noted that the exhibition’s return to the island after more than 20 years is an encouragement for local photographers to get insights and to have more submissions in coming years. “The winning entries also speak for the fact that the event recognizes talent from under-served regions,” she added.

Benchmarking with global standards

Urging more local submission for 2025 edition of World Press Photo, Chief Executive Officer of the SLPI, Kumar Lopez remarked that the touring exhibition is an eye-opener for both our photojournalists and editors to take a wider angle in capturing photos in a different light. “For example, ‘stories’ category urges photojournalists to capture not just a single event, but a series which tells serious stories which can help address certain society norms, issues and challenges and build a better society.” Lopez went onto note that photography has expanded beyond mainstream media into social media platforms enabling photo enthusiasts to build their own brands while visually narrating stories that matter. Lopez also remarked that continuous training in photography and dialogues with internationally reputed photojournalists, facilitated by SLPI gives a fillip to local talent to benchmark themselves with global standards.

Students of photography at the SLPI, Dinushkar Premkumar and Dilushi Wijesinghe applauded the initiative to be a tool of widening their horizons. A budding photojournalist, Dilushi, while encouraging more women to take up serious photojournalism noted that events such as World Press Photo provides insights into new techniques as well as ethics in photojournalism. “The winning entries which depict survivors of sexual violence for example, offers understanding of ethical portrayal of them while creating critical dialogue on social evils.” She also remarked that unconventional story-telling through photography deserves more space in local mainstream media.

The World Press Photo Exhibition which was inaugurated in Colombo on Jan 10, will be at the Arcade Independence Square till Monday Jan 20 and will return to Colombo on Saturday, February 8 – 10 at The Forum, Cinnamon Life. It will be open in Jaffna from Jan 24 to 27 (at the Jaffna Cultural Centre) and in Galle from Jan 31 to February 2 (Galle Municipal Hall). The exhibition will be open to public from 10.30 am to7 pm at all above locations.

Pic credit: World Press Photo

By Zanita Careem

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Siri Walt was born in 1967 in Bergen, Norway. She has studied at the University of Bern and at Lincoln College, Oxford, and has earned a PhD in Classics from the University of Bern in 1997. With a distinguished career spanning diverse diplomatic roles, Siri Walt brings a wealth of experience to her role in Sri Lanka.

She also served as Ambassador of Switzerland to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo and Gabon and from 2019-23 as Head of the Africa Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in Bern.

Siri Walt is married and has one son.

In an interview with the Sunday Island she shared her views on the naunces of diplomacy,the challenges and her aspirations for fostering stronger ties between Switzerland and Sri Lanka. Right from beginning, she revealed her deeply, human effectionate, optimistic and vibrant personality, she also spoke about shared values of democracy and human rights. Ambassador Dr. Siri has personal hopes dear to her heart, she loves to meet with people, not just from the fancy parties or within the diplomatic circle but to meet people from all corners of Sri Lanka. Her mission reflects a commitment to strengthening the bond between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to work closely to further develop this relationship with a shared vision for mutual prosperity.

Tell us about your professional journey? What inspired you to pursue a diplomatic journey?

My diplomatic career started almost 28 years ago, and I have never regretted it. Then, as now, learning about new cultures and countries and at the same time representing my own country and promoting bilateral relations is very gratifying. I also appreciate the diversity of my profession. I dealt for example with trade issues in South Korea, with development cooperation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or with multilateral issues on the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) desk at headquarters. It is a privilege to learn from so many people, including political leaders, business representatives, civil society activists and artists, and to discuss issues of common interest.

Challenges you face as a woman diplomat in countries you served, including Sri Lanka?

When I entered the Swiss foreign service, women were still a minority and there very only very few women ambassadors. Since 2005 we have an association of Women Diplomats which promotes women in leadership positions and compatibility between work and family. I had the privilege to preside over this association for some time. It is important for colleagues to exchange experiences and to help each other. As a diplomat abroad I have never experienced any particular challenges as I am seen, at least on a professional level, as representing my country. But as women in general, we face of course still many challenges, in Switzerland, Sri Lanka or globally. So, if I can be a role model for young women by being a female diplomat, it makes me very happy. And it is encouraging that the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry boasts many highly qualified women. The appointments of Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as PM and of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando are strong signals and will hopefully inspire many young Sri Lankan women to pursue their career goals.

Project visit: admire strength and resilience of women

Gender equally and women’s rights, How do you champion these initiatives in Sri Lanka?

Generally speaking, working to enhance gender equality and women’s rights is not only a task for women. They are the responsibility of the whole society, including men. It takes the effort of everyone to create a better and safe environment for people of all ages and gender.

At the embassy, gender issues are always a cross cutting theme when we plan our projects. We try to make sure that men and women are equally benefitting from our activities. And some projects target women specifically. When we plan meetings or organize panel discussions, we aim at gender equality among participants, although this can be quite challenging.

Your memorable experiences as a diplomat in Sri Lanka. How do you navigate these challenges as a woman diplomat?

Switzerland and Sri Lanka enjoy excellent bilateral relations in many fields. This enables my team and myself to engage on the political and economic level, but also through our cooperation in the field of peace promotion, reconciliation, human rights and migration. I particularly appreciated my trips to different regions of Sri Lanka where we met numerous men and women representing the diversity of the country. Their engagement in promoting prosperity and unity of Sri Lanka is remarkable. I do not think that these meetings are different because I am a woman, but I was particularly touched when I met the immensely strong women of the families of the disappeared in the North and the South. Their strength and resilience are truly impressive.

Your likes and dislikes in Sri Lanka. What are your memorable moments as a diplomat ?

Sri Lanka is a beautiful and amazing country in so many ways. Its cultures, landscapes, wildlife, but also the hospitality of its people and the food are truly special. Travelling in Sri Lanka is a great pleasure, and I am glad that many Swiss tourists enjoy this experience as well.

In our work on dealing with the past and peace promotion, we are of course also acknowledging the tragic legacy of the civil war and other violent episodes which are part of the country’s past. The courage of men and women dealing with these issues is very inspiring. It encourages us to work together with them towards a united and peaceful Sri Lanka.

Elegant and chic at the Swiss National Day

From the magnitude of events around the world today, what do you think are the biggest challenges Switzerland will face in the next decade?

In today’s world we are indeed facing numerous challenges, not only for Switzerland, but for humanity in general. Major conflicts are raging in different parts of the world, causing incredible human suffering. Geopolitical tensions in general are increasing, making our world more insecure and volatile. Also, climate change, food insecurity and global health issues need common efforts on a global level. Like all countries Switzerland is trying to navigate this changing environment and contribute to solutions. We particularly focus on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and humanitarian issues, the promotion of peace and a rules based global order in general.

And being located at the heart of Europe, Switzerland needs stable relations with our European neighbors with whom we share close cultural, economic and security ties.

During your time as Ambassador in Sri Lanka , is there a project close to your heart that you’d get it done?

At the moment, I hope that we can establish close ties with the new government which enable us to work together in areas of common interest to strengthen our economic ties, continue our successful migration partnership and contribute to a Sri Lanka which is united in its diversity.

Tell us about a time when your professional and family responsible came into conflict?

Combining professional and private life as a diplomat can indeed be challenging, for women as for men. Dual careers are hard to achieve and children are not always enthusiastic if they have to change schools and friends in regular intervals. I am lucky to have a family that was and is ready to make compromises and grow as much as possible from this fascinating but demanding life as a diplomatic family.

Have you ever been subject to harassment or discrimination and if so how do you handle it?

Discrimination is often subtle. Bosses might be unhappy if you are less flexible with a small child. Or people wonder if you really are tough enough for the job. What I regret sometimes is that men see their female colleagues as competitors, not as partners. We need men and women to create a diverse and successful working environment.

Can you share a formative experience that helped your leadership vision or style?

We can only achieve our goals working as a team and we should focus on the strengths of each member of the team. I think it is important to have inspiring mentors. I always enjoyed and learnt a lot from more experienced colleagues or superiors. I share this knowledge and experience with the colleagues around me.

What has been the biggest factor in your success? What was most difficult obstacle?

My parents have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, my family has provided the support to continue my career and my friends have been there in times of need. I am also grateful for the coaching by female mentors who can help to navigate a working environment dominated by men.

Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort welcomed the new year in grand style with its highly anticipated New Year’s eve gala dinner dance. The event, held at the picturesque Poolside Lawn, drew over 250 guests who enjoyed a night of culinary excellence, dazzling entertainment, and vibrant celebrations.

Guests were treated to a sumptuous buffet spread, featuring a mix of international and local delicacies, followed by high-energy performances by live DJs, captivating dance acts, and a breathtaking fireworks display at midnight.

The highlight of the evening was the electrifying ambience, with guests dancing the night away and creating unforgettable memories by the scenic beachfront.

Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort continues to be a prime destination for vibrant events, offering world-class hospitality and idyllic settings for unforgettable celebrations.

General Manager Mano Gunasekara, Inoka (center) and Eran