The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) set up a Health Journalism Forum in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a platform for health reporters to engage in discussions of topical interest. These discussions with subject experts and colleagues in journalism are to strengthen and improve health journalism in Sri Lanka and further professionalize reporting practices.
The introductory forum session organized by the Institute was held on Tuesday, 30th November 2021 on the Zoom platform with the participation of journalists from newsrooms and provinces. Key speakers for the session were the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) Dr. Padma Gunaratne and the Senior Journalist Ms. Kumudini Hettiarachchi, Deputy Editor (News Features) of The Sunday Times. The speakers focused on the two perspectives of the medical aspect to reporting and media conduct in Sri Lanka with an emphasis on the social responsibility in journalism. The session was moderated by the Senior Journalist and former
Director Communications of Parliament, Mr Shan Wijethunge.