Sharmini Boyle is a senior manager and international media development practitioner with over 30 years’ experience, including a 15-year stint in Afghanistan leading media programs for Internews. Sharmini has worked in the Sri Lanka media sector since 1982 when she began her career at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and went on to establish her own documentary production company, Precision Productions in 1985. She was Chief Editor of Young Asia Television from 1995 – 2010, where she led several media interventions for peace, development and good governance. Sharmini Boyle has also worked as a media consultant for national and international organizations in Sri Lanka and South Asia.

Hana Ibrahim is a senior journalist and media professional with more than 30 years of local and international experience in the media industry. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Express and Weekend Express, published by Express Newspapers Ceylon Ltd. She is the founder editor of Ceylon Today (Daily and Sunday) and has previously served as Editor of the Sunday Standard, Senior Associate Editor of the Sunday Observer, and editor of friday, a weekly tabloid she conceived and launched. Her international journalism career includes reporting stints in the United States and an extended period in the United Arab Emirates with Gulf News, where she covered major global events, including the wars in Somalia and Bosnia, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and the subsequent war on Iraq.

Dilrukshi Handunnetti is an international award-winning investigative journalist, senior editor, trainer, researcher, and a rights advocate. She is a lawyer by training. She co-founded the Colombo-based Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) and currently serves as a director after ending a four-year stint as its executive director. A trained investigative journalist, she led the investigations desk at The Sunday Leader, a feisty investigative publication, and later held top editorial positions, including Consultant Editor at the Weekend Express and Senior Associate Editor of the Sunday Observer before setting up CIR. Dilrukshi is a recipient of over 15 local and international awards for her excellence in investigative reporting, covering the environment and column writing. Her work has appeared in the UK Guardian, Al Jazeera, The New Humanitarian, Himal Southasian, the New York Times and more. Currently, Dilrukshi is Mongabay’s Sri Lanka editor and a columnist with the New Indian Express.

Gagani Weerakoon is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience in Sri Lanka’s media industry. Her career spans newsroom reporting, field journalism, and editorial leadership, with a strong focus on public-interest issues, social justice, and ethical journalism. Over the years, she has contributed to strengthening responsible media practices while also mentoring young journalists and engaging in media development initiatives. Gagani is widely respected for her depth of experience, integrity, and commitment to journalism in the public interest.

Niranjani Roland is an award-winning Tamil journalist with over 15 years of experience in print and online media. She started her journalism career at the Virakesari Tamil Newspaper and later joined Bangkok-based news agency, www.ucanews.com as a reporter. Presently, Niranjani works as an independent journalist, researcher, and digital media trainer. Niranjani is secretary of SAWM’s Sri Lanka chapter and a council member for its regional format. She is also an executive committee member of Sri Lanka’s Free Media Movement (FMM). Niranjani has a graduate degree in law, a BA in social sciences from the Open University of Sri Lanka and a post graduate diploma in development studies and public policy.

Krishni Ifham is an award-winning Sri Lankan journalist with over two decades of experience in mainstream print media, which also involved frontline reporting during the country’s civil war. Krishni currently works as a freelance journalist and media trainer. Krishni has also served as a visiting lecturer at the Sri Lanka College of Journalism and University of Jaffna. Krishni is the founder of the Tamil-Speaking Women Journalists Association.

Sulochana Peiris is a documentary maker, writer, and researcher, Sulochana's work explores the themes of armed conflict, peacebuilding, human rights, transitional justice, women, peace and security, media and information eco-systems, social media and social movements, particularly in authoritarian contexts. Work in these themes has taken her to other South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. Sulochana has a MA in conflict and peace studies from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sulochana has been awarded several fellowships, including Rotary Peace Fellowship and Salzburg Global Seminar Fellowship. Sulochana is an honorary visiting research fellow at the Centre for Peace and Security of the University of Coventry in the UK.

Avanthi Sahabandu is Sri Lanka’s first woman video editor. She worked as assistant director, video productions at the Worldview International Foundation from 1984 to 1990. From 1994-2002, Avanthie was a consultant for Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission’s project, Rights for All. Later, Avanthi served as an associate editor at Young Asia TV from 2002 to 2014.

H. Husna is an award-winning Sri Lankan journalist with over 16 years of experience in public interest reporting. Husna is currently serving as a sub-editor at Thinakkural newspaper. Recognized for her impactful reporting in health, environmental, and social issues, Husna has received multiple national and presidential awards, including Best Healthcare and Medical Reporter of the Year for six consecutive years. Her reporting has played a vital role in countering misinformation, amplifying community voices, and promoting public awareness among Tamil-speaking audiences. Husna is also actively engaged in media development and gender equity advocacy performing the role of executive committee member in three national media associations: The Sri Lanka Tamil Speaking Women Journalists Association; Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum; and SAWM Sri Lanka Chapter.

Radika Gunaratne is an Attorney-at-Law, a certified Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Trainer, the Founder of the Parivartan Organization and a visiting lecturer on Communication and Creative Arts in the University of Colombo. She brings extensive experience from the media sector, having served as a Features Editor, Television Producer, Director, and Script Writer, alongside her current work as a freelance journalist. She is an RTI Consultant for the Sri Lanka Press Institute and various civil society organizations, conducting training for media professionals and the public on legal rights and transparency. Radika’s work is centered on gender justice, with a particular focus on Technology-Facilitated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (TFSGBV).

Saranya Prathap works as an Online Journalist at the Virakesari Express Newspapers Cey Pvt Ltd

Shanika Sriyananda is a freelance print media journalist with over two decades of experience. She was at the Sunday Observer as the assistant news editor and extensively covered Sri Lanka’s three-decade-long civil war from 2007 until its end in May 2009. Her reporting was focused strongly on war-affected communities, including victims of conflict, rehabilitation of ex- LTTE cadres, resettlement processes, reconciliation efforts, and broader post-conflict challenges.

Shanika later worked at the Ministry of Defence as Director of Media, and subsequently, served as Director of Research and Analysis at the Presidential Secretariat.

An award-winning journalist, Shanika has been recognised for her writing on environmental issues, health awareness, and science. She is also the author of two books. Currently Shanika is a freelance journalist attached to the Daily Financial Times

With 13 years of experience in the media industry, Mahesway has worked across online and print journalism with both local and international media organizations. Her professional background includes news updating and editing for digital platforms, as well as print journalism with Tamil Mirror (Vijay News Papers Limited) and Sudaroli.

She spent six years as a parliamentary and cabinet correspondent, covering legislative and executive affairs. She also brings strong experience in field reporting and on-the-ground news gathering. She currently work as a freelance journalist.

Methmalie Dissanayake is a Sri Lankan journalist with over a decade of professional experience in print and digital media. She is currently a journalist at The Sunday Morning newspaper. Previously, she served as News Editor at Ceylon Today and Asian Mirror. Her work focuses on politics, governance, accountability, and social justice, with a emphasis on human rights and the experiences of marginalised communities.

She received the Subramaniam Chettiar Social Development Reporter of the Year Award (2020) at the 21st/22nd Journalism Awards for Excellence in Sri Lanka.

Dileesha Abeysundara is a senior journalist and media professional with more than 22 years of experience across print, digital, and television platforms. She began her journalism career in 2004 with Irudina newspaper at Leader Publications Pvt Ltd, where she built a strong foundation in investigative and political reporting.

She later joined Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Sri Lanka’s national broadcaster, contributing extensively to newsroom reporting, field journalism, and television news production. Throughout her career, she has maintained a strong focus on human rights, political affairs, and social justice issues.

Beyond journalism, Dileesha is a committed media and human rights activist. She currently serves as the Secretary of the Free Media Movement, where she actively advocates for press freedom, ethical journalism, and the protection of journalists’ rights.