(K Vishvdev Rao) (Lucknow)
India and Sri Lanka Forge New Era of Media Cooperation and Exchange
Emphasis on Cooperation Between Indian and Sri Lankan Journalists
Agreement Reached on Journalist Exchange Programs
With the aim of strengthening cross-border media ties and fostering collaborative journalism, the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) organized the “Sri Lanka and India Journalists Fellowship and Cooperation” program today at the UP Press Club in Lucknow. Hosted by the UP Working Journalists Union (UPWJU), the conference proved to be a significant step toward regional media solidarity, drawing key union leaders, delegates, and international guests from both nations.A major highlight of the event was the special presence of Subhashini De Silva, who attended the UP Press Club upon the invitation of IFWJ National President Gopal Mishra and General Secretary K. Vishwadev Rao. Office-bearers of the UPWJU played the role of hosts, facilitating meaningful dialogue between local and visiting representatives.Adding an international dimension to the program, Pethum Pasqual, President of the Asian Media and Culture Association, and General Secretary Nishanta Alwis addressed the attending journalists and UPWJU members via video conferencing. In their virtual addresses, they emphasized the need to enhance joint journalistic efforts, cultural understanding, and institutional cooperation among media organizations across South Asian countries.The conference was led by senior office-bearers from both organizations. The IFWJ leadership was represented by President Gopal Mishra, Vice President Prem Kant Tiwari, General Secretary K. Vishwadev Rao, and Treasurer Rajat Mishra. Meanwhile, the hosting team from the UPWJU was led by President Haseeb Siddiqui, State General Secretary Dev Raj Singh, Lucknow Unit President Shiv Sharan Singh, and Secretary Nitin Srivastava.The primary objective of this fellowship is to deepen professional ties, promote ethical journalism standards, support press freedom, and ensure the safety and security of journalists. By bringing together a national body like the IFWJ, a regional unit like the UPWJU, and international media associations onto a single platform, the conference established a strong foundation for ongoing bilateral exchanges and institutional cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.Other UPWJU office-bearers present at the occasion included Bhaskar Dubey, Shiv Vijay Singh, Ashish Kumar Singh, Avinash Shukla, Vijay Kumar Tripathi, Himanshu Dixit, T.N. Mishra, Najam Ahsan, Alok Dwivedi, and Anil Saini, among othersEmphasis on Cooperation Between Indian and Sri Lankan JournalistsAgreement Reached on Journalist Exchange ProgramsLucknow, October 29, 2026: With the aim of strengthening cross-border media ties and fostering collaborative journalism, the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) organized the “Sri Lanka and India Journalists Fellowship and Cooperation” program today at the UP Press Club in Lucknow. Hosted by the UP Working Journalists Union (UPWJU), the conference proved to be a significant step toward regional media solidarity, drawing key union leaders, delegates, and international guests from both nations.A major highlight of the event was the special presence of Subhashini De Silva, who attended the UP Press Club upon the invitation of IFWJ National President Gopal Mishra and General Secretary K. Vishwadev Rao. Office-bearers of the UPWJU played the role of hosts, facilitating meaningful dialogue between local and visiting representatives.Adding an international dimension to the program, Pethum Pasqual, President of the Asian Media and Culture Association, and General Secretary Nishanta Alwis addressed the attending journalists and UPWJU members via video conferencing. In their virtual addresses, they emphasized the need to enhance joint journalistic efforts, cultural understanding, and institutional cooperation among media organizations across South Asian countries.The conference was led by senior office-bearers from both organizations. The IFWJ leadership was represented by President Gopal Mishra, Vice President Prem Kant Tiwari, General Secretary K. Vishwadev Rao, and Treasurer Rajat Mishra. Meanwhile, the hosting team from the UPWJU was led by President Haseeb Siddiqui, State General Secretary Dev Raj Singh, Lucknow Unit President Shiv Sharan Singh, and Secretary Nitin Srivastava.The primary objective of this fellowship is to deepen professional ties, promote ethical journalism standards, support press freedom, and ensure the safety and security of journalists. By bringing together a national body like the IFWJ, a regional unit like the UPWJU, and international media associations onto a single platform, the conference established a strong foundation for ongoing bilateral exchanges and institutional cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.Other UPWJU office-bearers present at the occasion included Bhaskar Dubey, Shiv Vijay Singh, Ashish Kumar Singh, Avinash Shukla, Vijay Kumar Tripathi, Himanshu Dixit, T.N. Mishra, Najam Ahsan, Alok Dwivedi, and Anil Saini, among others
