New Delhi. An extensive discussion has been held between journalists from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, and other countries at the International Conference on the Role of Journalism in Peacebuilding and Cooperation in South Asia, by the Bharatiya Vidyapeeth and the SAARC Journalists Forum India Chapter in New Delhi, India.
The program, chaired by Professor MN Hoda, Director of the Bharatiya Vidyapeeth, was addressed by the International President of the SAARC Journalists Forum, Raju Lama, General Secretary, Md. Abdur Rahman, Member, Ismita Mishra, President of the Sri Lanka Chapter, Rahul Samantha, President of the India Chapter, Aniruddha Sudhanshu, and others.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Chapter, Mr. Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi, emphasized the current legal and social media harassment of journalists, media institutions, and social activists who criticize the government and expose the truth in Sri Lanka, as well as the impact on the right to information in Sri Lanka.
At the program, the international members of the Forum, Rinzin Wangchuk of Bhutan and General Secretary of the Pakistan Chapter Husnain Chaudhary, addressed the program through a video message.
The speakers participating in the program emphasized that despite the challenges, efforts should be made through journalism to establish peace in the SAARC region through the medium of journalism.
Meanwhile, the third annual Kishore Shukla International Journalism Award 2026, instituted by the Indian chapter of the SAARC Journalists’ Forum, was presented to Nrapendra Lal Shrestha of Nepal, Shashibhushana Kumar of India, and Prageeth Janaka of Sri Lanka, who were awarded international journalism awards at the event.
Senior Journalists Raju Lama, Abdur Rahman, Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi, Noor Nabi, Md Yosuffudin, Rudra Subedi, Saddab Malik, Dipendra Prajapati, Shailesh Sah Kanu, Abhilash Gupta, and Azmat Ali among others were also presented with international journalism awards at the event.
Many journalists from the region, representing the SAARC Journalists Association, participated in this international event, including Mr. U. S. P. Bandara of Sri Lanka. These members were also appreciated and given certificates and awards.
In conjunction with this conference, on the 6th, a tree plantation program was organized by the Joint Secretary of the Indian Universities Association, Dr. Alok Kumar Mishra, and the Director of Gandhi Bhavan, Delhi University, Mahacharya K.P. Singh, along with the media representatives, at Gandhi Bhavan, Delhi University, and on the 7th, special discussions and awards ceremonies were held at the Sham Lal Faculty and Hansraj College, affiliated to Delhi University.
