Bhathiya Barukanda
Hilton Colombo, Ruby Hall
Good morning, everyone. It is an honor to be here this morning to kick-off a workshop that I am certain will be a transformative experience for all of you as female journalists from across Sri Lanka. It has been my passion to support and advocate for women in Sri Lanka as ambassador. Just yesterday I met with a group of women entrepreneurs we’re training and supporting through the WeCreate program. And we’ve seen recently the great success of Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket team win big as underdogs despite not getting attention like their male counterparts. Women need to be confident, stand up, and demonstrate our successes!
First and foremost, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Jessica Rinaldi who will be leading a series of workshops this week. Welcome to Sri Lanka, Jessica. It’s not often we get a Pulitzer winner come to Sri Lanka so this is very special.
Jessica’s award-winning coverage documenting the life of Strider Wolf with his grandparents in rural Maine following abuse as a child, effectively showcased vulnerability and emotion in a few images, exemplifying the age-old phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Her work emphasized the power of visual storytelling as a means of provoking emotion and spurring action.
I also recently viewed her amazing photos of the human spirit in both tragedy and resilience as she captured images of the Ford Hood mass shooting and Hurricane Ike.
I’m thrilled that all of you here today have the opportunity to learn from such a talented photojournalist. Out of hundreds of applicants, 22 of you were selected to explore the power of photography in telling Sri Lanka’s stories not just for your local audiences to consume but for global audiences as well.
It’s important that I emphasize inclusivity in the field of photojournalism. Last year in September, ICFJ hosted a photojournalism workshop led by another Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, but despite the open call for applications only a handful of female journalists applied. Similarly, during the U.S. Embassy’s Earth Day photography competition this year, only a handful of submissions were by women.
It’s disheartening to see the underrepresentation of women in photography especially in journalism. Let Jessica inspire you to break barriers.
As a female diplomat, I often faced challenges in male-dominated spaces where I felt unwelcome, or where I felt my opinion did not matter because I was a woman. But I didn’t let that stop me. My gender did not decide whether I should be in the position I am in today. I decided that I deserve it and I worked hard for it and that’s why I stand here before you. My hope is that you too feel encouraged to pursue a path that you might have hesitated treading before.
While I am not an expert on photography equipment like Jessica, I do know that in today’s digital age, many of us carry a high-quality, compact camera in our pockets. You don’t have to carry DSLR’s wherever you go to capture an impactful moment. So, make sure you pay attention to Jessica’s tips on how to make the most of your devices.
The United States is proud to support this program, part of a five-year initiative to build investigative journalism capacity in Sri Lanka. This support underscores U.S. commitment to press freedom, professional development and journalistic excellence.
Before I conclude, I must thank the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) who is leading this initiative in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI). I appreciate your partnership in supporting the development of Sri Lanka’s media sector and look forward to seeing the progress in future.
Enjoy your time with Jessica this week. I look forward to seeing how you will use the skills you learned here to capture the stories of this wonderful country. I also hope you’ll inspire other women and girls, paving the way for more female photojournalists in Sri Lanka. Through the power of lens, may you educate, inspire, and reflect on the truths around us.
Source: https://lk.usembassy.gov
