USAID Awards Scholarships to Students of the 2011 Journalism Diploma Program

March 15, 2011

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the development arm of the U.S. government, has awarded journalism scholarships to 20 young Sri Lankan men and women.  The recipients will attend the 2011 Journalism Diploma Program at the Sri Lanka College of Journalism (SLCJ) in Colombo. This is the third consecutive year USAID has awarded scholarships for the SLCJ program.  

The scholarships provide tuition and a monthly stipend. During the 12-month program, scholarship recipients choose from Tamil, Sinhala and English course streams focusing on print, television or radio. In their final quarter, the students complete internships working alongside media professionals and practicing their skills.   

Jim Bednar, USAID Mission Director stated, "USAID believes that a strong and independent press is a cornerstone of democracy. These scholarships will contribute to maintaining the diversity and caliber of Sri Lanka's press corps in the years to come. We are pleased to continue our partnership with SLCJ and the Sri Lanka Press Institute. The Diploma Program has proven to be a stepping stone for its graduates and USAID anticipates that these young scholarship recipients will soon join their predecessors at media organizations throughout the country. "

The SLCJ is the educational arm of the Sri Lanka Press Institute. Since 2004, the program has produced about 60 graduates per year with a 97% job placement rate in print and electronic media. With the aim of improving and increasing reporting from the regions, through the scholarship program, USAID hopes to provide opportunities for students from the provinces and increase the presence of regional reporters in the press corps. All scholarship recipients sign a commitment letter to seek work as journalists in their home province after completing the program.

Ms. Ramanathan Sujitha, a scholarship recipient from Mannar said, "The course not only gives us an understanding of the field of journalism but also teaches us media ethics and law, and language training. I'm grateful for having received this scholarship from USAID because many of us cannot afford the high expenses incurred while living and studying in Colombo. The scholarship eases these burdens so that we can focus on our work." 

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries worldwide for nearly 50 years. Since 1956, USAID/Sri Lanka has invested nearly $2 billion to benefit all the people of Sri Lanka.