About Us
Our Story
Founded in 1995, the National Media Foundation emerged at a time when Sri Lanka was in significant need of stronger media professionalism and enhanced journalist protection. The media landscape was evolving rapidly, and journalists faced increasing challenges that required more structured support, training, and representation. The Foundation was established to fill this gap—bringing together educators, senior journalists, legal experts, and communication specialists who believed in nurturing a responsible and professional media culture. Today, we continue to build upon that foundation by supporting generations of journalists through training, advocacy, media literacy programs, and international partnerships.
Our Core Values
- Integrity
We stand for truth. We expect honesty, accuracy, and fairness in all media work and training we offer. - Professionalism
We train journalists to maintain the highest professional standards, even in challenging environments. - Media Freedom
We advocate for the rights, freedoms, and safety of journalists—locally and internationally. - Social Responsibility
We believe that the media must serve the public interest and contribute positively to society. - Collaboration
Partnerships help us grow—locally, regionally, and internationally. - Innovation
We embrace modern tools, digital journalism, and emerging technologies. - Accountability
We encourage media institutions and professionals to remain answerable to the public they serve.
Why We Exist
The media plays a transformative role in society. It shapes opinions, influences decisions, and carries the responsibility of ensuring public access to truthful information. The National Media Foundation exists to:
- Strengthen media integrity and accountability
- Support journalists in their professional journey
- Safeguard the freedom of speech and expression
- Promote transparency and democratic values
- Help society understand the importance of ethical media
We are committed to improving the media environment in Sri Lanka—one journalist, one newsroom, and one community at a time.
Our Vision
To cultivate a Sri Lankan media ecosystem that is:
- Globally aligned
- Ethically responsible
- Professionally strong
- Socially conscious
- Technologically advanced
- Democratically empowered
We envision a future where Sri Lanka is home to a media culture respected for its transparency, accuracy, and commitment to the public interest.
Our Mission
Using education, research, international expertise, and modern communication technology, our mission is to:
- Empower journalists with global-standard skills
- Encourage responsible and ethical reporting
- Protect international and local media freedoms
- Promote collaboration between Sri Lankan and global media bodies
- Enhance media literacy among the youth and general public
- Support journalist welfare, safety, and rights
- Promote research that strengthens media knowledge
Our mission is long-term, strategic, and rooted in the belief that knowledge is the foundation of media excellence.