Business
Young Sri Lankan journalists embark on journey in entrepreneurship
By Manique Mendis
Thirty (30) dynamic Sri Lankan journalists launched their journey into the exciting world of entrepreneurship, at a workshop on entrepreneurship for young journalists conducted on 13 and 14 June, 2024, at NH Collection Hotel, Colombo.
The young journalists represented print, electronic and digital media. Some were influencers who owned their own media platforms. They had been selected out of a competitive application process. They were the lucky ones amongst the 212 young journalists who had applied.
The program was presented by the International Labor organization, ILO and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, CCC, in collaboration with the Rainbow Institute of Communication.
The entrepreneurship for young journalists’ program is part of the ILO program, South Asia Leadership in Entrepreneurship, SALE. It is implemented in Sri Lanka in partnership with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The program promotes entrepreneurship as a career option for youth, discarding the traditional ambitions of young graduates of public sector employment. SALE encourages entrepreneurship and an enabling environment for business. Focusing especially on the digital economy and e-commerce SALE supports youth’s entry into this sector, and provide them with training and awareness of the opportunities this sector offers.
ROLE OF MEDIA IN STRENGTHENING ENTREPRENURSHIP
SALE identifies the role of media in disseminating knowledge, shaping opinions and attitudes and has included a component focusing in empowering young Sri Lankan Journalists in entrepreneurship. This is being done through capacity development and mobilizing the participation of young journalists in the awards scheme for young entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship journalism is popular at global level today. It plays a pivotal role in media development by fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and ensuring the sustainability of the journalism industry. This niche focuses on stories about new business ventures, start-ups, and the broader economic environment, shedding light on the challenges and successes of entrepreneurs.
The ILO SALE programs engagement with local journalists aims at motivating the journalists to cover entrepreneurship as a subject area for reporting and thereby boost the image of entrepreneurship and also equipping young journalists to embark on entrepreneurial initiatives to complement the income they earn through journalism.
The young journalists were exposed to key aeras of entrepreneurship journalism during the workshop which was activity based. The workshop commenced with an introduction to the entrepreneurial eco system by the Chief Technical Advisor, ILO, Dr Thomas King. This was followed by interactive sessions on identifying and developing stories on entrepreneurship conducted by Charindra Chandrasena.
Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka Fact checkers, Pavithra Sandamali and S. G Prabhu enlightened participants on how to identify and counter fake news and disinformation.
Hasitha Dela, conducted an informative session on how to use Artificial Intelligence for entrepreneurship reporting and Omar Rajaratnam discussed how to leverage digital tools for entrepreneurship reporting.
The grand finale of the workshop was a panel discussion with four outstanding young entrepreneurs. They were winners of the ILO- CCC, SPARK competition 2023, for young entrepreneurs.
Company stresses ambition to surpass this milestone
Eyes markets across Africa and beyond
In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo Ltd, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported its first consignment of locally built laptops to Zimbabwe.
This landmark event not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence on the international stage.
This historic shipment, dispatched from EWIS’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Samajasewapura, Sooriyawewa, underscores the company’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions. With over 11 years of expertise in manufacturing and assembly, EWIS Colombo Ltd has played a pivotal role in driving Sri Lanka’s ICT sector forward. As a Board of Investment (BOI) Section 17-approved company, EWIS has established the country’s first and only local computer manufacturing plant, paving the way for the nation’s growth in high-tech exports.
Speaking on this momentous achievement, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman of EWIS Colombo Ltd, said: “This milestone is not just for EWIS but for Sri Lanka as a whole. It proves that our country has the talent, capability, and ambition to manufacture and export high-quality IT products, competing confidently on the global stage. As we continue expanding beyond local markets, we take immense pride in showcasing Sri Lanka’s excellence in technology and innovation to the world. EWIS’s commitment to world-class quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality, safety, and environmental standards.”
Speaking further he said:
“For nearly four decades, EWIS has been a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, delivering cutting-edge solutions for education, businesses, and government enterprises.
With over 11 years of local manufacturing and assembly expertise, EWIS has continuously refined its capabilities to produce high-quality, internationally competitive IT hardware. The successful export to Zimbabwe represents a bold step toward expanding EWIS’s global footprint, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class technology and manufacturing hub.”
Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has partnered with Emerging Media to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of advertising. This collaboration brings together Dialog Television’s world-class entertainment, featuring 18 advertisable channels across genres such as movies, edutainment, kids, music, sports, and local content, with Emerging Media’s expertise in digital advertising and targeted marketing. This synergy creates a seamless platform for businesses to maximize brand exposure across multiple channels.
With a reach of over 1.7 million households, Dialog Television provides advertisers with a powerful avenue to engage diverse audiences. Brands can place advertisements on leading international and local channels such as &flix, Star Movies, TLC, Animal Planet, AXN, Zee Café, Comedy Central, Star Plus, A+, Nickelodeon, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Star Sports, Ten Cricket, Sony SIX, ThePapare TV, Channel One, Citi Hitz and Channel C. Through this partnership, Emerging Media will facilitate advertising sales, allowing businesses to target specific viewer segments while simplifying the media buying process with a single point of contact.
Commenting on the partnership, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “As Sri Lanka’s premier Pay-TV service provider, we serve more than 1.7 million households with over 6 million pairs of captive eyeballs across Sri Lanka. Today, we are excited to embark on this partnership with Emerging Media to avail our Dialog Television platform and brand strength to provide quality advertisement exposure and customer engagement to local businesses across Sri Lanka.”
The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a pioneer in healthcare training for over 23 years, has partnered with the University of Surrey, UK, to revolutionise healthcare education in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. This will create a world-class academic pathway for aspiring nursing and healthcare professionals, as well as young individuals seeking careers in the field. Under this agreement, IIHS and the University of Surrey will introduce a series of academic initiatives to enhance healthcare training and accessibility.
These include delivering internationally recognised nursing programmes that allow Sri Lankan and regional students to earn globally competitive qualifications in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the move, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIHS, said: “This MOU marks a significant step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare education to Sri Lanka and the region. IIHS remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare professionals and fostering global healthcare leadership.” Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasised: “Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a regional education hub, and this partnership ensures students across Asia can access top-tier UK healthcare education at IIHS. By bridging academic excellence with accessibility, we provide students with a clear pathway to their professional goals.”
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